Daniel Janser's Rookie Experience

[Daniel Janser 1,981]

 

Daniel is sitting with a cup of tea on the balcony of his home in 1124 Bellevue Avenue at the right bank of the Elbow River in Calgary. About half a mile in the distance and to the Southeast he can spot the Saddledome, his working place for the past few months and maybe for the remainder of his career. 

His train of thoughts are interrupted by a ruckus at the front door, which he leaves unlocked whenever he is home. Before he can shout down, to ask what the commotion is, he hears a familiar voice: 'Hello, someone home?'. His sister has arrived from Saskatchewan. He goes down the stairs and welcomes his youngest sibling with a bear hug.

 

'Hey, sis, how was the drive?'

 

'Release me, you big oaf.', she reverts smilingly instead of an answer followed by: 'The drive was not half bad, but I could do with a helping hand with my dunnage and a cup of coffee.'

 

'I am so glad, you could make it, Nicole. The kitchen is straight ahead, why don't you pour a cup of your own, while I do the heavy lifting, literally. The bathroom is just on the left, in case you want to wash your hands first.'

 

'Will do and then you have to tell me everything, since you came here. Nice crib, by the way, DieDie'. Daniel smiles as he hears the name Nicole used for him when she was not able yet to say 'Daniel'.

 

'Your room is on the right, Nic. Let me know, if you need anything.'

 

'Oh don't you worry I will'

 

'Yeah, I know.'

 

Once Nicole has unpacked all the suitcases and the siblings sat down at the kitchen table with ample provision of hot beverages and cookies, Daniel starts to tell, what happened since he moved to Alberta, to report to the Wranglers: 'So, first I got to know the management and my new team mates of course. Then they showed me around on the premises. It is all on a bigger scale than at home of course, hockey has a complete different importance than back in Switzerland, as I am sure you know. Then they provided me with the address of a real estate agency, who works with them in order to find a permanent place to live. In the meantime I was booked in a hotel near the Saddledome.'

 

'How long did it take you to find this gem? It is near perfect for you. And you have a pool!'

 

'Well I was lucky really, they just finished building the place, but the guy they built it for had to dislocate to Singapore for his job, so he had to get rid of it and fast. Due to the circumstances, the house was offered cheaper than it had any right to be and there were a lot of applicants for this place.'

 

'So how did YOU get it? It was for sure not your natural charm.'

 

Daniel boxes his sister on her shoulder 'Hey, watch your mouth madam, you are a guest here. But you are right. Luckily for me, the fellow is a big Wranglers fan and so I shot right at the top of the list and got accepted.'

 

'So how is work?' a pouting Nicole asks her brother, rubbing her shoulder.

 

'Great, I made friends immediately and invited the whole squad to a house warming after I bought the place. Marcel could make it as well, he was fishing at the Lake Chicamocomico. Funny story, Gus lost all of his money while playing poker against Dex. However, Dex felt bad ripping Gus off, as he did not tell him that he grew up in a casino in Vegas, his dad being the manager of said establishment. Long story short, he returned all the money next day. By the way, I arranged an informal meet and greet with the team this afternoon, when I take you to the Saddledome. I know how hard you crush for hockey players.' This time Daniel was at the receiving end of a blow to his shoulder.

 

'Hey not on the moneymaker, sis', Daniel laughs and his sister starts a fraction of a second later.

 

'At the beginning of the season I was walking to practice, it is only ten minutes at a jog. But since I beat up Sosa earlier this season, it got increasingly more difficult to get there on time, as people recognize me on the street and ask for selfies and/or autographs. You know me, I cannot say 'no' if people ask me for a favour. For me it is no big thing and for the fans it means the world to them. I never imagined to be that famous, or rather notorious. So I started taking the bike to practice.'

 

'I of course watched your games, big brother. You are sporting quite the bad boy image, but are very productive for a two-way-player. If I calculate correctly, at this pace you end up scoring more points than in your first season in the VHLM.'

 

'Don't you jinx it. But yeah I get into fights more often and I take other penalties. At least I have not gotten a game misconduct so far and all my fights ended with the other guy sent to the sin bin as well. So I am not that big of a liability to the Wranglers. The veteran players also showed me the ropes and how to play Wranglers hockey. Especially Phil and Saku had some very useful tips for me as Johnson is a similar type of player and Kotkakoivu is a center. I still have lot to learn. My skating is in need of an update together with my offensive skills, my puck handling and my defensive positioning. So I have my work cut out for me. You know of course that I changed position.'

 

'Does a bear shit in the woods? The press was full of it, you fool.'

 

'Hey, would you look at the time, we are due to go to the stadium. Unless you want to refresh your make-up?', Daniel says with a mischievous grin.

 

'Did I already tell you, how much I hate you?'

 

'Only a million times. Let's go. I drive. Because.... I know the way.'

 

'Chicken. You are just scared of my fabulous driving style.'

 

'You are right about the scared part, it is called 'self preservation'.'

 

'You know, if you were not going to introduce me to a whole team of hot hockey players I would go back home immediately.'

 

'But I do, so you don't. C'mon we are running late.'

[Shindigs 1,771]

22 hours ago, Daniel Janser said:

Don't you jinx it.

And this is how we found out Daniel's sister is a @fromtheinside multi, with all those jinxes.