Change of Heart Read Online Free PDF

helmet. He didn’t want to put it back on, but the ref was insisting. Sean finally relented and went back out onto the ice.
    Morgan whistled and waved to him. When Sean spotted her, his whole face changed. He smiled at her and blew her a kiss. As he did, I saw his eyes move around the arena, as if he were looking for someone else. I followed his gaze and spotted Tamara holding a microphone out to the coach of the other team. There was a cameraman nearby, focusing his lens on her. He seemed to be taking direction from a preppy-looking guy standing behind Tamara. But instead of paying attention to what the coach was saying into the microphone, Tamara was staring sullenly across the ice at Sean. He gave her a defiant look before skating back to join his teammates.
    They listened in for whatever their coach was telling them. Player number 24, who was standing beside Sean, nudged Sean and said something to him. Sean said something back. Number 24 did not look pleased.
    â€œWhat do you think that’s about?” I asked Morgan.
    â€œIt looks like Sean and Jon disagree about something—again.”
    â€œJon Czerny?”
    Morgan nodded. “Sean calls him an enforcer.”
    â€œA what?”
    â€œMuscle on ice. He keeps other players out of the way so that Sean can score. He gets into fights all the time. Guys have been injured because of him. Some players are afraid of him. I’m glad he’s on Sean’s team, because if he was on the other team, I’d be worried about Sean.”
    I saw what she meant during the second period. The opposing team scored one goal early on. Then Sean got control of the puck. He was skating for the opposing team’s net when someone cut him off. Bang! Jon slammed that player into the boards. The guy collapsed on the ice.
    â€œGood thing they wear all that gear,” I said. “Shouldn’t Sean tighten his chinstrap?” It was dangling in a loose loop from his helmet under his chin.
    â€œThey’re supposed to wear them nice and tight. But a lot of guys in the NHL don’t, so a lot of younger players think it’s cool to wear them loose like that.”
    It looked like Jon wasn’t finished with the guy who had collapsed. He raised an arm. He was going to hit the guy. Sean appeared and grabbed Jon’s hand. Jon whirled around and shoved Sean—hard.
    â€œDid you see that?” I said to Morgan.
    â€œSean says Jon plays too rough sometimes,” Morgan said. “Sean doesn’t like it, but he can’t get Jon to stop.”
    Jon turned back to the player on the ice, but by then some of the guy’s teammates had clustered around him and brought him to his feet. He looked shaken. As the ref checked the guy out, Sean was waved over to the side of the ice. His coach was holding something in his hands.
    â€œIt looks like they found Sean’s helmet,” Colin said. “Maybe now he won’t be so distracted.”
    Sean took the helmet from the coach and jammed it onto his head. He fastened the chinstrap, but it hung loosely below his chin, just like it had on the other helmet.
    Play resumed. A few seconds later, a player from the other team fell face-first onto the ice and a roar of disapproval filled the arena.
    â€œWhat just happened?” I said, confused.
    â€œCzerny tripped that guy,” Colin said. “For no reason. What a dumb move. He’s going to get a penalty.”
    Sean skated over to Jon. He looked angry. Then the ref signaled and, sure enough, Jon was sent off the ice.
    When play got underway again, the game got rough. The players on the opposite team were one man up on Sean’s team. I guess they didn’t like what Jon had done. But he was sitting in the penalty box, so they took their anger out on Sean. They blocked him at every turn. Whenever he got control of the puck, three guys from the other team came at him to stop him from passing. The fans were going crazy. Morgan was