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Richard Theo can’t give that back to him unless it’s been taken away from him first.
“Unfairness is a far more natural state in the world than fairness,”
he has nothing to gain by picking fights with the supporters. Elite sports doesn’t tolerate that sort of distraction. Players should just play. Hockey should just be hockey.
Filip will talk in interviews about how David used to drive him there once a week for the rest of the season. “Best coach I’ve ever had! Saved my career!” The physiotherapist works for one of the biggest hockey teams in the country, and the following year it recruits Filip. David gets a coaching job there at the same time.
Elisabeth Zackell will apply for the same job but won’t get it.
Always fair. Always unfair.
Always unfair for women
“I’ll keep the puck, that’s enough,” Benji says.
Benji gives him a long stare. “I am a fag, Vidar.” Vidar hits the bear on his chest. “But you’re our fag!”
They’re so different, her three children. Bobo has never really figured how three siblings can end up like that. The same genes, the same upbringing, the same home. Yet still utterly different people.
The complicated thing about good and bad people alike is that most of us can be both at the same time.
Another harsh reality
We demonstrate after an attack, we donate money after a disaster, we lay our hearts bare online. But for every step forward we take, we take an almost equally large step back. Seen over time, every change is so slow that it’s barely visible when it’s happening.
“Don’t let the bastards see you cry, Benji.”
Maya’s voice is weaker than her words. “You just go in. With your head held high and your back straight, and you look every single bastard in the eye until they look away. We’re not the ones there’s something wrong with, Benji.”
“I refuse to be a victim. I’m a survivor.”
Maya says, “I want to do this just for me, Mom. Something just for me. Do you understand?” Kira understands. Better than anyone.
“He’s got a point, Benji. People are going to shout worse and worse things until they find something that works. You mustn’t react. Not you and not Vidar. You’re both too important to the team.” Benji is breathing furiously through his nose. But in the end he calms down and helps Bobo up. “Okay. Keep trying, then.”
It turns out that this is Bobo’s unique talent in life: teasing people beyond their endurance.
It’s not that important. It’s only a sport. A different sport.
was a road accident, but accidents are quirks of fate, and we will know that we could have prevented this one. This one will be someone’s fault. Many people’s fault. Our fault.
“I don’t want you to fight for my sake! I don’t want you to do things for my sake! I just want you to believe in me. I don’t want you to take me places, I want you to back me up so I can get there myself!”
The old man’s car is skidding too fast, it hits with full force, and the body slams onto the hood. Vidar Rinnius dies the same way he lived. Instantly. Theirs was a love we will always remember.
It’s so easy to get people to hate one another. That’s what makes love so impossible to understand. Hate is so simple that it always ought to win. It’s an uneven fight.
In ten years’ time, Amat will be a professional player, playing in huge arenas. Zacharias will be a pro as well, but in front of a computer. Bobo will be a father.
“Who can I be, if I’m not this?”
Benji doesn’t play this game. He’s
That is a shock
She too will save a jersey with the number 16 on it, on all her teams, for as long as she’s a coach.
don’t know. I just want to find out who I am if I’m not a hockey player. I don’t think I can do that if I stay here.”
“So you want me to give the money to that Rainbow Fund because I’m one of them?”
“No. We want you to give them the money because you’re one of us.”
It’s Peter’s resignation letter. He’s no longer general manager of Beartown Ice Hockey. He no longer works there at all.
tells himself that in the end he will have done more good than harm in the world. Because he is convinced that only someone with power can influence politics, so it isn’t enough to have good intentions, you have to win first.
there are people missing, both on the ice and in the stands—people everyone has always taken for granted.
Everyone gets a stick. Two nets. Two teams. Us against you.
