Al knelt on the floor, methodically lacing up his skates. His mind wandered to the images of Bobby Orr, his favorite player, dancing across the ice with effortless grace. The excitement bubbled within him as he double-checked his helmet, gloves, pants, and pads—four things, just like his hero's jersey number. Dad called from the doorway, wearing a broad smile. "Ready to hit the road, champ?"

Al sat in the passenger seat, his eyes glued to the passing scenery. Dad hummed along to the country tune playing softly from the radio, his fingers tapping the rhythm on the steering wheel. "How's school going, buddy?" Dad asked, glancing over with a warm smile. "It's easy right now, Dad. We're going over a lot of the stuff we learned last year," Al replied, his voice bright with enthusiasm. Al danced slightly in his seat, swaying to the music, his spirits as high as the snowflakes swirling outside.

Dad parked the car and turned to Al, his expression serious yet encouraging. "Remember, work hard, play fair, be a good teammate, and most of all, have fun." "Got it, Dad! That's four things, just like Bobby Orr!" Al exclaimed, his voice echoing with the excitement of a new adventure.

Al stepped onto the ice, his yellow helmet bobbing slightly as he adjusted his hat underneath for a snug fit. His eyes sparkled with determination as he joined his friends, eager to make the most of their time. "I might score today!" he called back to Dad, who waved encouragingly from the sidelines.

Al trudged off the ice, a hint of disappointment clouding his features. Dad met him at the edge, kneeling to help with his skates. "Did you work hard? Play fair? Be a good teammate and have fun?" Dad asked gently. "Yes, yes, yes, and yes. That's four yeses, Dad. Bobby Orr!" Al said, his earlier disappointment melting into a proud smile.

Al's mind drifted to his friend Derek's mention of the Arbortown Mites. He turned to his parents with hopeful eyes. "Can I try out for the Mites?" he asked, his voice filled with anticipation. Mom exchanged a glance with Dad before speaking. "Well, it's dinner time, so let's enjoy our meal together. We'll think about it, okay?" Al nodded, a mix of excitement and hope weaving through his thoughts as he fell asleep later, dreaming of the Bruins and the fun he had on and off the ice that day.