Al, a spirited 7-year-old, was bustling around his room with excitement. His brown hair was tousled, and his big, curious eyes darted from one corner to the other, searching for his gear. He chanted his little rhyme, "One, two, three, four, Bobby Orr, he could skate!" as he checked off each piece of equipment. Helmet? Check. Gloves? Check. Pants and pads? Absolutely.
Al zipped through the room, past his mom who was sipping coffee and reading the morning paper. She gave him a fond smile, "Ready for practice, champ?" she asked, her eyes twinkling with encouragement.
"Almost, Mom! Just need my skates!" Al replied, his voice bubbling with excitement. He dashed to the corner where his beloved skates awaited, clean and gleaming.
Al carried his gear bag over his shoulder, feeling the familiar weight. His heart raced with anticipation as his feet crunched over the gravel driveway. "Bobby Orr, here I come!" he whispered to himself, grinning. I will work hard and have a positive attitude, just as Coach says.
Al He joined his teammates, his small frame standing proudly among them. He slid on his skates, feeling the cool metal under his bare feet. He didn't wear socks because he didn't like smelly socks after hockey. The coach blew the whistle, signaling the start of practice. "Let's make Bobby proud!" he exclaimed, beaming at his friends.
Al felt the rush of the wind as he glided over the ice, his cheeks flushed with exertion and joy. "One, two, three, four," he murmured, imagining the grace and power of his idol. Each stride brought him closer to his dreams. He waited all week for Saturday at Instructional hockey, so much so that he would wait for commercials about football or basketball games on Saturday knowing seeing TV ads meant that Saturday was close. Almost time for hockey!
Al sat on the bench, breathless but happy, his skates resting beside him. His heart was full, knowing he had given his all. "One day, I'll be just like Bobby Orr," he thought, as he watched his teammates laugh and chat. And with that dream nestled in his heart, Al knew that every practice, every game, was a step closer to his own greatness. He also knew he was with his best friends and he loved to play hockey with them. I was a great day.
