“Thanks……I’ll see you later…”

He closed the door behind him as he left. Mom said she would bring me a snack later. I settled in kicked back and watched the movie. About halfway thought it I began to notice that I didn’t know what the movie was about. I couldn’t stop focusing on Carmen. Carmen running in her snow suit, Carmen checking herself for the parasite that had infected her crew, Carmen fighting off the crazy pilot, Carmen sleeping, Carmen, Carmen, Carmen…..

I kind of felt like Hugh Grant in that movie with Julia Roberts. 

The next day at breakfast I watched as Shay answered all the questions for his latest phone interview. I watched as his agent talked on three cell phones, I watched as mom and dad looked so proud of their son. They couldn’t hide how happy they where. Wearing his jersey from juniors…..they looked silly and proud. And I was so grateful to not have to answer any questions about me or Carmen or me and Carmen. I was grateful that the day was all about my brother.

That day we made the quick trip into the city as the draft was being held ay Madison Square Garden. Whole lot media there but it was sports media so again I didn’t have anything to worry about. On the drive over I couldn’t get my mind of Carmen in the last scene of the movie, blood on her cheek, uniform torn and tattered, hair flowing in the artic breeze, she had survived…made it to the end. The sunset they generated looked real enough and she looked beautiful as always.

I missed her with such a pain that the only thing that saved how obvious it was….was Shay. We made our way inside, all types of fans and teams and more interviews till the show started. The Rangers had the first pick, Philly had the third. My brother played too well to fall to third so barring some kind of miracle Shay was going to be a New York Ranger.

We did not speak as the commissioner made his speech. The Rangers where on the clock and on the big monitor in the center of the room showed Shay’s highlights from the season. The Rangers where taking their time making him sit it out. The commissioner finally announce The Rangers had two minutes to make their pick. I just messed up Shay’s hair a little more to lighten the mood to for him. The commissioner announced that a trade had been made.