Some more SMH boys doing cross-stitch for @des-zimbits, since we both firmly believe that Jack would also be into it. (See Dex teaching the Frogs here.)
Jack was ready for the NHL in every way a person could be ready. He had been training for it literally his entire life, and even taking the slightly less direct path than he’d initially intended had arguably only made him more prepared. The schedule was grueling and intense and he was on top of it. His rookie season was already stellar.
What he was not prepared for was how much time there was to be bored while in transit. Sure, they’d had fewer games in college, but all his free time in between those games was taken up with classes and homework and papers and readings and practice. Now he just had practice, and all he had to do on the bus or plane was whatever he wanted to do. It was… weird. It was boring. He’d already read all the books he’d promised himself he’d find time to read one day, and he didn’t actually want to read another history book right now. Or watch another documentary.
He’d tried reading some of Snowy’s airport bookstore mysteries, (which Snowy’s sister had apparently termed “action-adventure romances for men” and they all knew because now Snowy wouldn’t refer to them any other way,) but the characters were too ludicrous and he’d lost interest after the first three. (Though he did still listen and smile when Snowy and Poots did dramatic readings. He was considering sending a copy of the first book to Holster.)
He was starting to find it very frustrating. But then:
“It’s so cute, Jack! Dex has all of the Frogs, well, not the actual Frogs, who are now the Tadpoles, but your Frogs, you know, he has them all cross-stitching! Now, I don’t know what that weird thing is that Dex is working on himself, though he seems to like it, and I’m certainly no artist, so who am I to judge, but Chowder and Nursey are working on some nice bookmarks, and Chowder is just so excited at the idea he could do a shark next. They sit together on the bus and work on their projects, and it’s just precious.”
“So it’s pretty portable?” Jack asked, intrigued.
“Seems to be.”
“Huh.”
And then the talk turned to what Bitty had baked that day and eventually, at Jack’s insistence, what homework he actually had to do, and the subject dropped. But Jack didn’t forget.
To: [email protected] From: [email protected] Subject: cross-stitching
Dex,
Bitty mentioned that you taught Nursey and Chowder to cross-stitch as something to do on the bus. Could you point me at some resources to maybe teach myself? Looking for some roadie projects as well.
Thanks, Jack
PS - Maybe don’t tell Bitty, yeah?
A few hours later, Jack had links to a number of online tutorials, both written and video, as well as some suggestions of what to look for in ordering a beginning pattern. (“Since you’re doing it on your own, just get a kit. I gave the guys here everything they’d need, but that’s because I had it on hand.”)
He grinned when he found the perfect thing. They had a whole string of road games coming up, and with luck, he thought he might be able to finish the whole thing before Bitty’s birthday.
