Coach exhales slowly like a man who saw this coming from a mile away.
"Five minutes," he says. "No slapshots."
Dex pumps a fist.
"Field trip," he says.
Bobby digs into a bag and pulls out a foam puck while Colby drags a few tiny orange cones from the equipment pile near the wall.
"Everyone scoot back," the teacher says nervously.
The kids scoot closer.
"This is a stickhandling drill," Colby explains, setting the cones in a line.
Dex takes the puck.
"Observe greatness," he announces.
He starts weaving through the cones.
A tiny second grader immediately steals the puck.
Dex freezes.
"Hey," he says. "That was not in the lesson plan."
The kid takes off across the gym.
Dex chases him.
The entire gym erupts.
"GET BACK HERE," Dex shouts, laughing as the kid zigzags around chairs.
He finally scoops the puck back and hands it over like he's awarding a tiny championship trophy.
"Future first round pick," Dex says.
Next Bobby drops to one knee.
"Goalie demonstration," he says.
A six-year-old winds up and pushes the foam puck straight between Bobby's legs.
The puck slides gently into the net.
Maddie jumps up.
"THAT COUNTS!"
"Goal of the year!" Dex yells.
The principal claps enthusiastically.
The teacher presses a hand to her forehead.
"Career Day usually involves a dentist," she says. "No one scores goals."
