Page 19 of Walk the Line

His eyes flicker between us. “You both really just don’t like to talk, do you?” Still nothing. “Okay. We’re combining the Women and Men’s Hockey teams this year into one. I already had an idea of who I would have on this newly formed team but I wanted to confirm it with the game I just had you play. The Women’s Hockey team coach has found new opportunity so the timing is perfect. Julius, you enjoy being Captain last year?”

“I did.”

“Good, because you’re Captain again for this team and for the foreseeable.”

He lets out a breath. “With all due respect, Coach, that’s not news to me.”

“You’ll be sharing the responsibility with Kaylah,” he says and walks to the exit without another word.

“Wait, what?” we both say at the same time.

“Oh, is that news to you?”

I see a vein pulsing through his head as he probes, “What do you mean sharing the responsibility?”

“I mean…you’re Captain…and so are you.” He points at Julius first. When aiming his finger at me, he says, “Provided you’re okay with that, of course. I have to say it’s a great opportunity, encouraging for the team and I think it could definitely benefit you both as well.

I loved the four months in which I was Captain at my old university. Despite the lack of friends I had on the team, and my depression and anxiety sitting in the surface of my life, the role felt so natural. It evoked a feeling of comfort in me that I felt during every game.

I don’t really know if that same level of comfort would be there if I’m doing this with Julius.

But I won’t let that stop me.

“That’s fine,” he says.

He nods.

“Why the change in team setup?” Julius asks.

“I need my best players on the team, because, well, I’m not gonna beat around the bush, I want us to win every game we play. I proposed my idea to the important names at the League, and they said we’ll all see how it works. You know how it goes now. We’re all showing what we can do in the first few games and then the eliminations will begin. Our goal is to not get eliminated, and if it’s not clear what I mean by that, I mean that our goal is to win. From everything I’ve seen that is a combination of the two teams I just split up, I know who I want to move forward with as I believe you’re all capable of hitting these results. I know fights are easy to come about during these games, and I’m here with open ears if you feel like that’s a point of concern for you, but…”

“I’m not concerned about that at all.” I say, despite him making a point to not name anyone specifically.

“Oh, okay, but just in case…”

“I can discuss it with the team, though.”

“We.”

I would be offended by Juliu’s curt tone if I wasn’t so used to it by now.

“Forgot about that, sorry,” I say.

“I’m standing right here.”

“I guess I just tuned you out.”

Coach laughs.

“Well, on that note, I’m sure you’d be happy to discuss how you would like to perform your duties together amongst yourselves. I think you should maybe…get to know each other a little bit. Guys…I have to tell you, I could probably get more conversation out of a parrot. I need you to mesh well together, so…please. One of you will say something to the other, and then the other will say something back as a response, and then you just keep going from there.”

Julius lets out an exasperated sigh. “Thanks for the lesson on how to converse.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Just quickly before you go, Coach. How much thought have you put into this?”

“A lot of thought.”