Chapter 16 - Bob Gets Benched (Again)
"Ladies and gentlemen, please stand and remove your caps for the singing of the American and Canadian national anthems. Here to perform them is international superstar Ricky Martin!"
A smattering of applause went through the HSBC Arena as the Latino heartthrob stepped onto the ice. Eric Boulton smiled excitedly as the ex-Menudo member walked out in front of him. Bob saw this and felt awfully uncomfortable.
"Oh Canada... we're livin' la vida Canada, baby! Our home and native... native, native, native land, baby! True..."
Bob looked around as the anthems were being completed. He saw no other goaltenders on the ice, so he couldn't imagine why he wouldn't be starting this evening. A flutter of excitement raged in his bowels, along with a flutter of chicken wings.
"...y la casa de los bravos!" The same smattering of applause met the end of Martin's performance, but a bouquet of flowers landed mysteriously at his feet. Eric Boulton turned away coquettishly.
Bob went to take his place in the Buffalo net, but then heard a call from the Sabre bench. "Bob! Bob!" It was Lindy. "Bob, we need your help in the locker room!"
Bob didn't see a reason to argue; the last thing he wanted was another punch in the face from Rob Ray. Bob wandered down the aisle toward the locker room and was met with the most gruesome sight he had ever encountered.
Rip Simonick was rolling out a wheelbarrow, burdened with the weight of what appeared to be...
"A DEAD BODY?!?" Bob shrieked in horror.
"Jesus, Bob, settle down. You already saw it once when you killed him."
"Dan Cloutier? But why, Ripper? Why?"
"Well, didn't you hear? He's the starting goalie tonight."
"What? I have to sit on the bench in favour of a rotting carcass?"
"Yeah, I know, it doesn't make any sense to me either. Whatever, though. Help me push this thing, huh?"
Bob was crestfallen. What had he done to fall so far out of the graces of this organization? Disheartened, he shoved a limp leg into the wheelbarrow and helped Rip roll it out onto the ice.
Chapter 17 - coming soon
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