The Day I Had Been Waiting For

It’s hard to sort out actual memories from home videos and stories from family members. I am certain, however, that this memory is my own. I know it because not only can I picture everything that happened that day, but I can also remember what I felt like. It may not have been my first memory, but it sure does stick out in my mind. It was the day my brother included me in ball hockey.

I was probably about four or five years old. Growing up with older brothers, I was always a little more into sports than the other girls were. My best friend Melanie, who also had two older brothers, was in the same boat as me. We would sit outside and build forts for ourselves (and our stuffed animals) and watch the boys with envy. Sometimes when the boys would take a break for a drink or a snack, Mel and I would pick up their sticks and play around for a bit until they came back. We always hoped that one day they would need someone to even out the teams, and when that day came, we would be ready.

Well, that day did eventually come. I was sitting out on the front step, braiding my mom’s hair, when my brother Steven came out the front door and asked if I wanted to go in nets while he took shots on me.

I was in disbelief. It was too good to be true. He had to be playing a joke on me! He never, ever let me play, even just with him, even if I was the only one around.

 He took the old couch cushions that we used for goalie pads before Mom got us the real set, and taped them to my legs and arms with masking tape. My mom came down the driveway with my ringette helmet (which I thought was unfair because the boys didn’t have to wear their helmets when they played ball hockey) but I didn’t argue- I would have worn a full suit of armour if that’s what I had to do to play.

I knew we didn’t have a lot of time because the sun was getting low and Mom was going to have to go inside to make supper soon. I got in front of the net, which was taller than me. Steven said he wanted to practice his wrist shot, which was a little scary, but I was ready.

I let a lot of shots in that night, but there was one shot that I did not let in, that I remember in particular. The ball hit me at knee level and I caught it between my pads. Even though it was a freak accident that I caught the ball like that, I was ecstatic. My brother ran up to me and gave me a high five. I saved it.