Free Hockey Is My Boyfriend: Part Two by Melanie Ting Page B

It’s nuts. There’s no future here.” But my body was saying, “Kelly, he’s smoking hot, why not go for it? Are you going to be a spinster nun forever? Who cares about the future?” And while my body parts were busy arguing with each other, apparently Jimmy had been talking to me.
    “Kelly?”
    “Oh sorry, what did you say?”
    “Nothing.” He looked disappointed. If I kept up the internal debate, I could blow it before I had a chance to decide.
    “No, Jimmy, what is it? It’s kind of noisy.” I smiled encouragingly at him.
    He smiled back at me. “It’s okay.” And then he pulled me in tighter to him and as our lower bodies pressed together, I could tell he really, really liked me.
    Once the song ended, Jimmy didn’t want to dance anymore. He headed for the washroom, and I went back to the bar with Loreal. Suddenly, the lights came up on the band and the crowd.
    The lead singer was a skinny guy in his late thirties and a real showman. “And now, we have a special song, for a special lady.” People were clapping and cheering.
    “The only problem,” he continued, “is that my special lady and I called it quits last week.” He made a fake sad face and everyone went, “Awwwww.”
    “So I would like to call up a volunteer from the audience to be my special lady tonight.”
    There was a brief moment of silence, and then someone started chanting: “Kellee! Kellee! Kellee!” All the camp guys joined in. Beside me at the bar, Loreal was laughing and chanting too.
    The lead singer raised a hand for silence and then spoke into the mike. “Is there a Kelly here?” I tried to duck down, but the guys started pointing at me. “C’mon, Kelly,” the singer said. “Don’t be shy. Let’s give her a hand everyone.” People started clapping, and Loreal gave me a shove.
    “Go,” she urged me. “It will be fun. Gene is a riot.”
    I walked over to the stage, and Gene helped me up. He smiled and whispered, “Don’t worry, this’ll be painless. Stand there and relax.” He motioned to someone and the lights went down and a spotlight shone on the two of us. The keyboard guy started playing alone, and then Gene began to sing.
    Gene serenaded me with this totally corny ballad, “Oh Pretty Lady . ” I knew the song even though it was from the seventies. So I could sway and dip at the appropriate times. Maybe it was the drinks, but I felt relaxed on stage. With the lights down, the crowd completely disappeared.
    After the song, Gene gave me a kiss on the cheek, and thanked me. Everyone was laughing and cheering. He spoke to me as we walked towards the stairs at the back of the stage.
    “Thanks, Kelly. You’re a good sport. That song was way before your time.”
    “Actually, I know all the Trooper songs. My dad loved that group. We used to sing them in the car. You guys should play his favourite: ‘Raise A Little Hell.’ I love that one.”
    “Really?” Gene asked, “Do you know all the words?”
    “Duh.” I said, “My brother and I used to strut around the house singing it at the top of our lungs because then we got to swear.”
    “Well, hold up, honey. Why don’t you help me out?”
    And he offered me the mike.

11

Raise A Little Hell
    J immy

    K elly certainly let loose after a couple of drinks. First, she was dancing like a maniac with all the guys from camp. I managed to get one slow dance with her, but I still wasn’t getting a vibe from her that she liked me. Feeling her toned body against mine had gotten me all excited, and I think she felt my hard-on. Kinda embarrassing.
    Then, after Eric, who was totally gonzo, starting chanting Kelly’s name, she ended up getting to be the “Pretty Lady” in the song. I’d seen Gene pull this stunt before, and he always managed to get the prettiest girl in the room up there. Musicians were slick. I waited near the side of the stage to talk to her when she came back.
    These crazy strobe lights started up. Gene came out and started singing. I