Operation Vacation

 

The Scene: Coach Martin St.Louis' office, the Bell Centre. Marty sits at his desk, waiting for Lane Hutson to arrive. Hutson enters, out of breath.

Hutson: Hi Dad. Ummm...I mean Coach. Heh heh. Sorry I'm late. Ran into traffic on my way from the rink. You wanted to see me?

St.Louis: Yeah, just wanted ask...wait, what rink?  

Hutson: (blushing slightly) Well, there were these kids on the outdoor ice out by...

St.Louis: (interrupting) Yeah, yeah. I wanted to ask, what're your plans for the break? Going somewhere warm?

Hutson: Ah, well...I thought I'd hang around here. You know...use the ice while no one's around. Work on some things.

St.Louis: (sighs) Lane, we've been through this. You need to take a break once in a while, man. You're headed for a burnout. 

Hutson: But Daaaad, I mean Coach! I'm not tired! I only skated for two hours yesterday. And I was hardly even on the ice at all today.

St.Louis: Lane, you just said you stopped at the rink on your way to the rink.

Hutson: Yeah, but I didn't get much time there. The skates I keep in the car were missing, for some reason. I think somebody must've moved them.

St.Louis: (glances shiftily around) Um...heh...you probably forgot you took them out of there.

Hutson: No way! I always keep 'em in there, just in case I find some ice along the way. Anyhow, I thought I still had my backup pair under the seat, but they were gone too. Luckily I had my spare spares in with the extra tire.

St.Louis: (rolls eyes, mutters under his breath) Damn!

Hutson: What'd you say?

St.Louis: Lamb. I said "lamb." Just thinking of dinner plans.

Hutson: Oh...um...okay. Was that all you wanted to talk about?

St.Louis: (hands over an envelope) No. Gortz and Kent asked me to give you this.

Hutson: (puzzled, opens it) Wow! All-expenses-paid ten days in the Maldives! This is unbelievable!

St.Louis: (smiling and nodding) Great! Chill on the beach, get some sun. See you when you get back.

Hutson: But Dad...Coach, I can't use this.

St.Louis: (sighs) Why can't you, Lane?

Hutson: They only have one rink there, and it's not even real ice. It's some kind of plastic stuff.

St.Louis: Why doesn't it surprise me you know where to find skating in the Maldives?

Hutson: I did a geography project in school. Named all the countries and where to find a rink. Got an A on it. Plus, the one in the Maldives is called "Ice Ice Maybe," so that's kinda easy to remember.

St.Louis: Lane. Go. On. Vacation. Or am I going to have to ask Doc Dan to put you off work?

Hutson: It's really, really nice the team wants to do this for me, but I think I'd be happier staying in Montreal.

St.Louis: Okay. I didn't want to have to do this, but...I don't have a choice. Arber! Florian!

(In walk the Bash Brothers, grab Hutson by the arms and legs)

Arber Xhekaj: Sorry, man. No hard feelings, but we have orders.

Hutson: But...wait!! Wait! I have to...(Florian Xhekaj sticks duct tape over his mouth)

St.Louis: Thanks boys. All you have to do is get him to AvJet and watch until the plane takes off. See ya in two weeks, Lane.

Hutson: mmmfffftttt

St.Louis: You'll live. Bon voyage!