Down For The Ride (Jonathan Toews)

Jonathan

As I show Brielle around my hometown and all the places I loved to go growing up we decided to stop by the old ice rink, which was conviently named after me. After I won the cup the first time I used a lot of my earning to help fix this place up. I wouldn't have been able to do anything without that rink and I wanted other kids to have a chance to do what I did. A good chance to be even better. So I helped pay for some much needed renovations and get workers and coaches and skates for the kids. Anything to help the little boys and girls of Canada find their love for the game at their local rink as I did.

And now I get to show Brielle around the place and show her what came of everything. She always loves learning about my childhood, she'll go anywhere she thinks there's pictures of me as a kid. And I know they have some here. So we decide to put our masks on and join some of the kids who were finally getting back on the ice after quarantine.

"Are you sure I should be helping teach this class? I'm not sure I'm hockey coach material" she giggles.

"You'll be great" I promise as I pull her into a kiss.

We put our masks on and walk into the ice arena. There was a group of little kids sitting there in their pads and caged helmets sitting on the benches behind the glass as they wait for the zamboni to get the ice fixed up. As soon as the kids see us walk over they start to stir. Even with the masks on I'm sure they recognized the both of us.

"What's up kiddos" I ask.

"Hi Mr. Jonathan" a kid cheers and I smile. Kids really are the best.

"Hey there. You excited for practice" I question as I bend down next to the kid on the bench. He smiles real big as I look up at him.

"The most excited! I asked my mom if I could wear your jersey to practice today, see" he asks as he shows me.

"I think it looks good on you. Maybe one day I'll be wearing your jersey" I say making his eyes light up.

"Really" he gasps.

"Really" I assure him.

I get up to finish greeting the rest of the kids only to see half of them circled around Bri. She was squatted down as some of the kids take their gloves off to play with her hair. And trust me, I get it. It's a lot of fun to mess with her curls and she never minds when people ask to touch it. Not a lot of girls have hair like hers so she shares it with everyone.

She sits there talking to another little girl and I can see her smile even through the mask. She was such a natural with little kids. And you would think not a lot of kids this age would know about her and what she does since they're not old enough for social media. But she really doesn't have a demographic. Older folks lover her history lessons and what she does for the senior homes and the little little kids like her slime reviews and the silly games she does, she's just a people person and the people love her back.

"Alright kids! Practice time" the coach announces. So they all take to the ice and one kid had to get pulled away from Bri because he didn't want to let go of her hand. But we needed skates and gloves and a stick so they had to wait a little before we get back.

"I know I said I'm not ready for kids yet, but man I really want kids" Bri insists.

"What makes you think you're not ready for kids" I question. "You're great with them and you would be the most caring and inspirational mother out there. They would love you."

"I was raised by parents who weren't around all that much. When they were there I knew how much they loved me. We never missed a holiday and when it wasn't harvest season you couldn't separate me from my dad. But those long months with dad on the field and mom in the hospital it was hard. I was a only child for eight years and I felt more like a lonely child for most of the time. I knew my parents loved me, but that doesn't make up for the fact they weren't around.

I want to have kids, and I want kids with you, but I don't want to miss out on so much of their lives and I don't think you do either. I want to be at their practices and watch them play. I know that if our kid takes up hockey then you would want to be the one out there teaching him or her how to play. Do you really think right now we would be able to be in our kids life" she asks me.

I let out a long sigh as I shake my head. "No" I admit. "But if Patrick can do it I can" I try.

"Amanda doesn't have to be there for 50 million fans" she reminds me.

"Neither do you" I reply. "You're life is public knowledge but it's also your life. You said it yourself, show love in public but make love in private. When we're ready nothing should stop you from being the mother you want to be. And I bet there's 50 million people willing to help us figure it out" I promise.

"That baby would be so lucky and it doesn't even know it" she smiles.

"And loved" I remind her.

"Do you want kids right now" she asks me.

I just shrug my shoulders before letting them fall again. "I mean if you were pregnant right now I wouldn't be upset. But I am not ready to be a dad yet given the decision. The middle of a pandemic really isn't the time for me to try out being a dad knowing hockey is coming up and I don't know what to expect. But I would love a kid sometime in the next few years" I insist.

"I thought you didn't want kids" she says.

"I don't want a kid forced on me if that's what you're referring to. But brandy's case was different. She didn't understand what it took to be a mom, nor did she care. She wanted a baby for the soul purpose of keeping me around because she knew I could never leave my kid behind. She knew I would stay just for the baby and not because I loved her.

With you I know you would never have a baby to spite me, to trap me. I know you would care for our kid and treat it with the same love you show me every day. A kid with you would be a blessing but a kid with her would be a contract" I explain.

"Oh" she blushes and I smile.

"But you're the one carrying the baby so whenever you're ready, I am too. Though we should get through this horrid year before we even think about having a kid. We still have 6 months of this awful year left and I don't know if we can handle any more surprises" I laugh.

"Ain't that the truth" she shakes her head.