Chapter 3: Seeing Him Again.

Soon enough it was time to head to the arena. The closer I got, the more nervous I became. When I finally arrived, I went to the doorman as told. I was then taken to Jodi. We talked for a short amount of time, and then I was taken to Mario's office. I knocked on the door, unsure of how this would go.



"Come in," he called while his back was facing me, obviously very interested in whatever he was doing on his computer.



"Hello Mr. Lemiuex, I'm Ty," I said hesitantly.



With this he turned around, giving me his full attention. "Well hello Ty! And please, call me Mario. I've been waiting to meet you. I figured we could watch the audition tape that was sent to me about you, so you can see why we would love to have you as a part of this organization."



He probably meant it as more of a question, but it felt more like a command. I hadn't really thought about it before, but maybe I shouldn't watch the video. I mean I had no idea who actually made it anyways. After sitting there for probably 10 seconds running all of this through my head, I realized he was waiting for my response. "Oh, yes that would be great," I answered while silently cursing myself for not telling him the truth.



"Well, we have a TV in the players lounge, so we can watch it in there. Follow me," he said.



I didn't respond. I just got up and followed him. He didn't come across as a mean person, just a little demanding and that he knew what he wanted. And that I could understand. After all, we were probably a lot alike in that way.



As I continued to follow him, I noticed we were heading toward the locker rooms. When he went to go through he door, I think he could sense I was feeling a little uneasy about all of this now. "It's going to be fine, come on," he sighed with a small smile.



"If you say so..." I answered, reflecting a similar smile toward him as well.



I was praying nobody would be in there yet. But I knew better, it was a game day and I knew that most of he guys would be getting prepared for that. As I slowly entered the room, it felt like a million eyes were on me. Remembering that I wasn't there for my own personal fun, I kept my eyes down, and silently followed Mario back toward the lounge area. "Hey guys, this is Ty," he called out as if that would be enough of an explanation. I heard a lot of hellos, and with that I knew I had to at least acknowledge them. When I looked up, I looked right into the eyes of the devastatingly handsome Evgeni Malkin. He gave me his signature smile and I couldn't help but smile back. "Nice to meet you," he said. I replied with a smile and small wave, and continued my way back to where Mario was already setting up the TV.



"You can go ahead and have a seat on the couch there Ty while I get everything set up," he said.



So I did as he said. And not even two seconds later, we had a crowd.



"Watcha watching?" a voice called out, followed by a body sitting down next to me. I looked to see who it was and just laughed to myself. Max...



"Well, we are going to watch her audition tape," Mario answered. I silently laughed to myself as I realized this man liked to keep things short, and I knew Max would still have no idea what he was talking about.



"Audition for what?" Max questioned. How did I know that was coming... I knew enough about the players from watching the games and what not. I could practically name anybody on the team. But that didn't make this whole situation any easier on me. I was plain nervous and terrified.



"Ty here is going to be helping out our medical staff as an intern, she is wanting to become an athletic trainer someday." Mario stated proudly.



"Is that so?"Max asked smile.



"That's what I'm told..." I replied. I know that's not much of an answer, but I'm surprised I even got that much out because by this point there were about 10 other guys standing around us, all wanting to get in on what was going on. Half dressed I might add, which could only add to my state of shock.



"All right, everything is ready to go," Mario concluded.



With that the video started. I couldn't believe who's face showed up on the screen. It was my dad's. I could immediately feel the tears begin to swell in my eyes. It might have been 2 years since it happened, but I still got upset anytime he was brought up. He was my entire world until that day, and I don't think I could ever let that go. But seeing his face again almost sent me overboard. I tried to compose myself, I was in a room full of strangers. Crying like a baby isn't exactly a wonderful first impression. Soon enough the video was over. When Mario looked at me, he could tell I was obviously upset.



"Is everything all right? It was a wonderful video..." he said trying to soothe me.



I kept my eyes on the ground, silently willing myself not to cry in front of these new people. "No it's not that. Its just... that that was my father, and well...he passed two years ago." I stated quietly. I raised my head to look him in the eyes, as a few silent tears rolled down my face.



"Oh my, we had no idea. We received the video a couple years back but already had people lined out for the position then. When things didn't work out with them, we knew that you were the next possible applicant. I can't even begin to describe how sorry I am..." He blabbered.



"Its just hard," I commented quietly, thinking that would be enough of a description. When I continued to get blank stares, I knew I would have to continue. "He was all I had..." I finished as another tear escaped from my eyes. A few seconds later everybody started filing back to where they were before Mario and I arrived, obviously thinking that I needed some space right about now. That's when I felt a large hand on my shoulder. I looked up and saw it was Geno but just turned back around. He didn't say anything, but then again I didn't need or want him to.

Chapter 2: Who...Me?

It had been 2 years since my father passed away. He had always loved watching me play ball, so I always regretted feeling so much hate towards him when I thought he had forgot about my game so long ago. When I was younger, we made a plan for me. The goal was to get to the University of Pittsburgh on an athletic scholarship, and then play softball and basketball while there. As crazy as that seems he always believed in me and just wanted the best for me. After he passed, I decided that I was definitely going to make that happen for him. Since I had no close family, I was sent to a foster home in Pennsylvania where I continued to keep my studies up and excel in basketball and softball. And that catches us up to where I am today… a month away from my graduation.

I was just about to make my way to the closest Starbucks where I would be meeting with my advisor from the University of Pittsburgh, (yes, I had gotten an athletic scholarship!), but noticing I had a pile of mail on my computer desk, I took the time to go through it. I had nearly two hours to walk a block and a half anyways so I decided what the heck, might as well. Now I am an adamant sports fan, so naturally I keep up with the local teams. But when I came across a letter addressed from The Pittsburgh Penguins Organization, I nearly fell out of my chair. Why would they be sending me something...? Still in complete shock, I threw the letter in my coat pocket knowing I would have time to read it before Mr. Reynolds would show up to discuss my summer with me.

On my short walk to Starbucks, I glanced down at Melon Arena, which was conveniently a mere 3 blocks away. I still had no idea what the letter would say. Reaching the door to Starbucks, I entered and went up and ordered my usual. After my order was filled, I sat down and began to open the letter. After reading the whole thing, and checking the name several times to make sure it was really addressed to me, I sat there in complete shock. I had supposedly been chosen to be an intern in their medical department. The job would help me in the process of becoming the athletic trainer I had always wanted to be, but how did they know that's the job career I wanted to pursue? A majority of the letter talked about how breath-taking my admission video was, but I didn't have a clue as to what they were talking about. There was a number at the bottom of the letter, saying to call and schedule a meeting as soon as I could. I still could not believe this was happening to me... I never was the type of person that would catch a lucky break.

Soon enough Mr. Reynolds showed up, and we discussed my summer training requirements so I would be in top shape when the season rolled around. As much as I tried to devote my whole attention to him, I couldn't get the letter out of my head. As soon as we were done I rushed home. I literally sat on my couch, staring at the letter for probably a good 3 minutes before I finally got the nerve to call the number.

"Melon Arena, Jodi speaking, how may I help you?" a very perky receptionist said.

"Um... yes. My name is Ty Robinson.."

"Oh Miss Robinson!", she replied before I could finish my sentence. "We have been looking forward to your call."

"You have?" I replied, completely stunned.

"Yes, Mr. Lemieux and the rest of the the Medical Staff can't wait until you can come down and meet everybody!"

"Umm.. yeah about that..." I stammered. "I'm a little lost in this whole process, I don't recall sending an admission video in. I didn't even know anything about this program until I received your letter today," I continued.

"Oh! Well is there any way you could come down to the arena to get this mess sorted out?"

"Yeah I suppose I could do that," I answered. If they were still offering me this position, there was no way I wasn't going to take them up on it!

"Well, I'm sure you are aware that there is a home game tonight, so why don't you stop by around 5 and we can get you in to talk to Mr. Lemieux himself," she continued.

"Yes, that would work out perfectly," I answered quietly while trying to hold my excitement in check.

"Alright, when you arrive tell the doorman who you are, and he will escort you to me, and then I'll take you to where you need to be."

"Okay, thank you so much!" I said before she hung up the phone.

Oh my, my. What had I gotten myself into...

Chapter 1: And So We Begin..

So this is where we begin...

My name is Ty Robinson. I have no siblings, and am currently 18, and about to graduate high school in 1 month. My life thus far has been complicated and interesting to say the least. I had a fairly normal home life until my 7th birthday. That’s when she left... without a warning or simple goodbye. I was in the drive way to my house playing basketball, and my mother flat out walked straight past me without even hesitating to look me in the eyes, and got in her car, and left for good. Luckily, I had the best dad in the world. He raised me well, and I loved him tremendously for it. Now to say I was a tom-boy would have been an understatement. After all, it was just me and him. I never really got into the whole girly thing... always worrying about the big game that was currently on TV, instead of what my hair looked like or if my fingernails were freshly painted. Now we never had a large amount of money, just enough to get by. So I knew that if I wanted to go to college, I would have to work extremely hard in school. It just so happened that I was also extremely athletic, so not only did I have the chance of getting an academic scholarship, but I had the opportunity to get an athletic scholarship as well. I was young when I realized I could go far in the sports world. And being intelligent as well, I put two and two together and realized that ability alone wouldn’t get me anywhere. I worked extremely hard at everything I did. I took advanced classes at school and still managed a 4.0 GPA while also getting all-state in softball and basketball. In my spare time, when I wasn’t studying for that next big test, or spending countless hours in the gym working on my jump shot, I worked at our family owned café. It was always my dad’s dream to own one, and I wasn’t going to let that dream get away from him. I worked countless hours for no pay, in an attempt to pay him back for countless things he would never understand. He never understood why I wouldn’t accept pay. I had one simple reason. He never left. Ever since my mom left, I always tended to never get close to anyone for fear that they would leave. I was realistic... people always leave. Except my dad. I knew he would be there for me forever. And that’s when it happened. It was halftime of the championship game my sophomore year. My dad still wasn’t in the stands. He NEVER missed a game, so I knew something had to be wrong. Nevertheless, I had no proof. So I continued to play. After we won the game by 9, which I happened to win the MVP award for the whole tournament, I averaged 26 points a game—I continued my way home, simply flat out irritated at my dad for missing it. I stomped up the 4 flights of stairs to our apartment instead of taking the elevator… I had a lot of energy to burn from being so furious. I was finally on our floor and in hot pursuit of the door to our apartment, when our next door neighbor and my dad’s closest friend stopped me. I could tell something was wrong automatically and began to panic. And that’s when he told me… somebody had tried to rob the café, and my dad was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He had been shot 3 times while the robber attempted to get to the cash register. He was in surgery now, but the odds were not looking great. 4 hours later my father passed away. In a matter of 6 hours... my life had been completely turned upside down.