Some years ago

"Oh Christ! Not now!" Hank thought.  He angled himself toward the corner of the shower as he bit down on his already busted lip.  He opened up the cut he'd gotten in the second period of the game.  Blood trickled onto his chest into the lather of the shampoo.  Nobody gets wood in the shower.  He'd never live it down.  The sharp pain in his lip averted the crisis.  His mind had wandered to where he was headed after the game.  He toweled off, then threw the bloody towel into the laundry bin.  He headed back to the locker room to get dressed.  Starchless.  Thank god.

"You sure got tuned tonight Hank!"  Phil laughed as he adjusted his tie.

"Fuck you, Phil.  It was a sucker punch.  We play them again Tuesday.  I'm going to kill that cocksucker!"

"Ha!  At least Nancy will take care of that fat lip tonight.  Of course, her kissin' on ya will be kinda tough!"  Phil failed to suppress a laugh.

"Again.  Fuck you, Phil."  Hank took his dress shirt from the locker and put it on, taking care to watch for the bleeding on his lip to start again.

After a short while, both had their duffle bags slung over their shoulders and hockey sticks in hand.  They headed to Nancy's house.  She had left the rink right after the game and would be at the house when they got there.  Hank had been sweet on Nancy for a while now.  She'd come to most games this season, even the road games. Hank thought as they walked.  He thought of his mom's admonitions about Nancy.

"She wears lots of make up and wears her pants awful tight.  Isn't she protestent?"  He never answered her truthfully.  Had he, he would have said "Yeah mom.  Catholic girls don't put out."

The truth of it was, Hank couldn't verify whether Catholic, Protestant, atheist or otherwise put out.  He'd never been that lucky to find out.  Apparently, Phil, on the other hand, was well versed.  Or so he led everyone to believe.

They arrived at Nancy's.  As they dropped their gear in the outside porch, the could hear "Eye of the Tiger" playing on the stereo inside.  They played that same song tonight in the locker room to get ready for the game.  The coach thought it might rev them up.  Hank, as earlier, was getting revved up all on his own.

The door opened sending light into the porch.  Nancy's form appeared.  Hank noticed her form.  He always did.  He noticed it often even when she wasn't around as she always seemed to be on his mind.  Her blonde hair, teased perfectly.  Her wool sweater making her seem warmer still.  Her Calvin Klein jeans fitting like Calvin took the measurements himself.  And her smile.  She was always smiling.

"Awesome fucking game tonight Hank!" Nancy beamed.  Hank was reminded of his mom's lecture about protestant girls.

"Thanks Nancy.  Can we come in?  It's fucking freezing out here."

"Come in, already!  Vera is in the living room.  She started a bit early.  My dad didn't lock the cabinet." Nancy winked.  And smiled.  That smile.  Hank was smitten.  And yes, revved.

The boys follwed Nancy into the living room to find Vera sitting on the love seat bobbing her head, drink in hand, to the last of the Survivor song on Friday Night Videos.

Hank and Nacy sat on the couch.  Phil sat next to Vera on the loveseat.  Vera was much talked about by the boys on the team.  She'd apparently graced a few of the hockey players with her...ummm. graces.

Drinks were already poured prior to Hank and Phil getting there.  All took up their glasses and sipped.  Hank did so gingerly, his lip still stinging.  He didn't want to dribble all over himself.

They all stared at the television.  Simon LeBon was wailing something or other in his latest video.  None were really paying attention, though all were pretending to be.  All were really thinking of what hormonal teenagers think of.

Vera gave up trying to pretend and whispered something to Phil.  Soon, both got up and left.  Hank and Nancy sat and persisted to watch television, occasionally sipping on their drinks.  Hank really had no idea what he should do, although he knew what he wanted to do.  However, he was entirely baffled as to what he thought Nancy would want him to do.  Sip on his drink.  That was safe.

Nancy nuzzled closer.  That felt good.  He would sit like that all night long, if Nancy wanted him to.  Of course his physiology screamed for more, he was good with this.  He sure liked the way this made him feel.

"I love this song!" declared Nancy.  Corey Hart poutily sang of the importance of wearing his sunglasses at night.  She nuzzled a little closer.

Phil was at once in the living room with Nancy and Hank.  He excused himself and said he had to go.  Without further explanation, he was in the porch putting on his boots, and out the door he went, leaving his duffle bag.

No sooner had the door closed, Vera appeared in the living room tucking her sweater into her jeans.  Her previously shellacked hair a little worse for wear.

"What happened?" asked Nancy.

"I guess 'Quick Draw McGraw' wasn't in for the long haul.  I didn't even get it out of his pants!"  She poured herself another drink.

Hank started to shake.  Nancy followed suit.  They both were trying not to burst out laughing.  Kind of like in church where big belly laughs were faux pas.  Nancy was the first to crack.  She started laughing.  Heartily. Hank wasn't far behind.

Hank watched her laugh.  He loved her laugh.  He could listen to her laugh as long as he lived.

He would listen to her laugh as long as SHE lived.

It turned out, that wasn't quite long enough.