Red,green, and blue Christmas lights crisscrossed over top of the rink, giving a big-top vibe. Cedar boughs hung over theboards and giant red bows were taped to each side of the ice at the red line.
A jumbotron loomed over the packed stands and food trucks lined the pathway to the rink. A medley of smells floated in the air, a combination of hot chocolate, Growler Dogs (a hot dog with spicy chili), and Beaver Tails.
Dash trotted beside me, his nose in the air sniffing like it was his job.
Bang!
I jumped as a puck ricocheted off the frozen boards. One of the young players charged toward me, picked it up, and gave me an apologetic wave with his hockey glove as he skated away. It was still early and other than the food vendors, it seemed like it was just me and this keen hockey kid at the rink.
"Hold on, Dash." I paused to watch the boy skate. He had an effortless skating style that reminded me of a young Beck. Out of all the players who had come through the Bobcats’ franchise, only a few had made it to the NHL. Logan and Beck were part of that club. This kid, if he kept practicing, would make it too; I could see the talent in him.
Low voices and laughter floated through the air. The rest of the Bobcats joined the lone player on the ice, skating slow warmup laps at the far end. The Eagles, their rivals, circled in the end closest to the parking lot. There was no sign of any of the Beardog Growlers. And no Beck.
Good.
A line of trailers had been set up behind the bleachers as makeshift dressing rooms. Inside ours, colorful costumes hung on hooks over the benches. Sequins, witch hats, a faux-fur mane, and velvet vests for the flying monkeys lined the wall.
I fingered the gingham-print Dorothy dress and held it up to me, even though I knew it was pointless. Like the Grinch’s heart, this dress was two sizes too small.
I dug through a rubber bin with extra costumes, hoping to find something Dorothy-like. Dash sniffed at the musty bin. There was nothing that would work. Today, Dorothy would be off to see the Wizard in Lululemon leggings covered in dog fur.
The door flung open and the first of the kids poured into the dressing room. Their excitement was infectious and even though I felt like trash, it was hard not to smile at a room full of kids in costumes.
A few of the skating moms volunteered to help dress the kids. Terra was having a hell of a time with the Tin Man's hat. The little boy, Zephyr, was having a meltdown because the elastic was too tight.
"Zephyr." I knelt in front of him. "What if we taped the funnel to your helmet, would you like that?"
He sniffed and nodded. "That strap doesn't hurt my chin."
Terra put her hands in a prayer position. "Thank you. I'm on it."
The Cowardly Lion, a little girl named Juniper, was totally in character, roaring at Dash. She grabbed onto his tail and he dragged her around the room while she squealed and giggled.
"That costume is perfect," I said, patting Terra's shoulder. "Juniper is going to steal the show."
Sophie grabbed my hand. "Coach Clara! Maddie's not coming! Her mom said she barfed everywhere!"
"I know, sweetheart." Looking around the room, I realized we were lucky more of the kids weren't sick yet.
"But who is going to do her solo?" Sophie's eyes were wide. In her little world, this was a catastrophe of epic proportions. I missed those days when my problems were figure skating and not man-related.
Clapping my hands, I got everyone's attention. "Alright, Oz kids. Maddie is sick, so guess who will be skating her part?"
A hush fell over the room as the kids looked at each other.
"Me!" I gestured to my chest with my thumb.
"Yay!" The kids jumped up and down. "This is going to be perfect now." Sophie, sparkling in her Glinda gown, hopped in her skates.
Terra handed me the red sequin skate covers. "Maddie has big feet; you should be able to stretch these over your skates. I'll be right back." She returned in minutes holding a garbage bag.
"Here." She pulled out a blue knee-length square-dancing skirt, complete with a matching crinoline. "Evie had this in her trunk for the skijoring circuit. I'm not sure what we can do for a top, though; she wears a jean jacket with leather fringes."
I unzipped my hoodie. "I'm wearing a white T-shirt. It's good enough."
"Hmm." Terra tapped her lips with her index finger. "One last thing." She handed me two red ribbons. "A couple of braids, a few freckles with some eyeliner, and you'll be off to see the Wizard."
While we waited for intermission, the game played on a monitor that took up the entire wall at the end of the trailer. The Bobcats were up four to two with only a few minutes left. "They're going to win, Coach Clara." Zephyr hadn't taken his eyes off the screen.
