I sorted by genre until I had a small pile of albums that didn't fit neatly anywhere. I decided it could be miscellaneous and piled everything back onto the shelf.
My phone buzzed.
Pratt:Game in three hours. You working tonight?
Sully:Friday. Go do your pre-game thing.
Pratt:Already did.
Sully:The whole thing?
Pratt:Yes.
I pictured Pratt, focused and slightly bewildered by me.
Sully:The song and everything?
Pratt:The song and everything.
Sully:Good luck.
Pratt:Thanks.
Then, after a pause:
Pratt:Watch if you can.
I ordered Italian delivery early in the evening. It always arrived with an extra meatball.
Before eating, I crossed the room and put Steely Dan on. It was what I liked to call cocktail rock. It never sounded right without a wineglass in hand.
I poured a glass of the Montepulciano from one of our vendors that I'd been saving for no particular reason. Wednesday night was a reason.
Sitting on the floor in front of the couch, I dug into my third meatball and put the game on.
It was not a good night for Columbus, but it was an excellent one for Pratt. The announcers kept mentioning him.
Pratt is locked in tonight.Was that newsworthy? How else did he play hockey?
Late in the second period, a Columbus forward cut through the slot and got a clean look. Pratt moved maybe six inches, and the puck hit his chest, then dropped in front of him. The forwardstood there for a half-second with his stick still raised, personally offended.
I dug into my fourth meatball and watched Pratt skate to the corner for a puck. Some goalies filled the gaps with performance. Not Pratt. He just went and got the puck.
After finishing my dinner, I took my plate to the kitchen and came back. I sat on the couch as the game moved into the third period. Somewhere along the way, I nodded off.
My phone lit up at eleven forty-three.
Pratt:16 saves. Won 3-1.
I woke up enough to read it.
Sully:I watched most of it. That save off the post in the second. That guy looked personally offended in the replay.
I had to wait almost five minutes for the response.
Pratt:He was.
Sully:Does that feel good? When they look personally offended?
