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Weretarantula · 09-17-2019, 02:58 PM

(1100 words or something, wordcounter doesn't like names)

Maxime walked into the candy store in Anchorage, being utterly overwhelmed by nostalgia. He hadn't set foot in Alaska since joining Calgary, and the main thing he had looked forward to was seeing this store again. It had become a home away from home when he played for the Armada. The shopkeepers were old folks with big hearts. They stocked virtually everything you could think of. Gum drops, coke bottles, blue sharks, all kinds and brands of chocolate, strawberries and cream, gobstoppers, jawbreakers, sour strips, candy canes... the list went on and on for days if you really wanted to name them all. Those were just the ones that came to his head when telling the other Dragon's about it.

"Maxime!" Mrs Lipplestock exclaimed as he walked through the door. "What brings you to Anchorage? Walt and I haven't seen you in ages!"
"It's funny you should ask because I'm actually here to specifically see you, Mrs Lipplestock!" replied Maxime. "It's come to my attention that Calgary doesn't have literally anything like your store in it, and you know how bad I have a sweet tooth! I have come to order a whole heap of things that I have been craving desperately."
"Oh that's so nice of you Maxime, but you didn't have to come all this way, we could have shipped things to you. We aren't that old fashioned you know." Mrs Lipplestock replied, cracking a wry smile as she began to gather up some of Maxime's favourite treats.
"I could have done that I guess, but it's just not the same. You know my family isn't in Calgary or Anchorage after all, and you are the closest thing I have to a Grandmother out here! Sometimes it's just better to see people in person you know..." Maxime trailed off. He had caught his eye on something he hadn't seen before.
"What's that?" he asked curiously.

"Oh that dear? That is the plaque I had made for Mr Lipplestock. He unfortunately passed away not too long ago, rather suddenly too.." she softly spoke. Her voice cracked as she tried to fight the obvious pain that had come from acknowledging it's presence.
"Passed away?! But you just said you both hadn't seen me in ages!" Maxime was shocked at the revelation. Thinking quickly he realised that the statement didn't necessarily mean that what she said was out of the question.
"Well it's true, we haven't, but it's also true that Walt is in another place now. Maybe my wording wasn't quite appropriate for the situation."
"What happened to him, Mrs Lipplestock?" Maxime asked curiously, whilst trying to tread lightly on the topic.
"I don't really know to tell you the truth, I was busy stocking the shelves one day, and I distinctly remember hearing a strange noise coming from the back room. It's funny you know, I specifically remember I was unpacking a box of Jolly Ranchers, one of Walt's favourites. Weird how the world works sometimes..." She realised she was looking at the floor and turned her gaze back up to meet Maxime's face.
"I put the box down and I went out to the stockroom, and found that Walt was panting. The noise had come from him dropping a box of Hubba Bubba bubblegum. I asked him what was wrong, but he just shook his head, unable to answer. I honestly still don't know what was happening, but I called an ambulance immediately. They arrived and he was taken to hospital. They told me he was being put into a coma for his own good, but his vitals began to drop and he slipped away."
She looked longingly across the shop, as though she could still feel his spirit roaming through and helping her. Her eyes welled up underneath her old fashioned coke bottle glasses. Maxime looked at her sadly, wishing there was something he could do. He slowly put one hand on her shoulder and gently squeezed it, hoping the gesture would make her feel supported and loved. She tipped her head to the side and wiped away her tears.
"Sorry, it's just still very fresh. Being old we are well prepared for this part of life, but it doesn't make the aspect any less painful. Thank you for listening to me Maxime."
"You have nothing to apologise for Mrs Lipplestock. It's completely understandable to everyone who's experienced grief. It's healthy to be sad in this situation, and I just hope that if there's something I can do, anything I can do, you'll let me help you through this."

"Thank you Maxime. Now that you mention it, there is something I think that I might like to ask you for." she composed herself for a second to ask him the question. "I wonder if you might be able to have his ashes shot out of the Calgary Dragon's mouth at you next home game."
Maxime's face instantly changed of one from compassion to one of utter confusion. He wasn't sure he had heard that correctly. Had she really just asked for Walt's ashes to be shot out of the Dragon?
"I'm sorry, I have to ask you to repeat that, as I'm not sure I heard you correctly."
"That's okay Maxime, I know it's a weird request, but Walt actually put it in his will when we had them updated recently. He wants to be shot out of the mouth like fire spewing forth from the dragon itself. I'm not really one to understand theatrics, but he just had this idea and thought it was brilliant. He never stopped watching you, you know. He watched every Calgary game religiously, I suspect to just watch you play. You were like a son to him. I know it's a bit of an ask, but I'm sure he would love it if you could make it happen."

Maxime filled with immense pride and gratitude. He would make sure he fulfilled his request if it was the last thing he did.
"You can count on it. Do you know if he had a specific game in mind?"
"Oh, I'm not sure dear. I'd have to check the will. It might have been when you play against Edmonton, but I'm not really sure."

Edmonton. The scourge of Calgary's most recent playoffs. How dare they lose in the regular season so easily and then pull off some crap to come away with the series in game seven. And to top it all off then go on to win the whole thing too.

To be continued?

***luke*** · 09-17-2019, 03:08 PM

too bad I skimmed it

Weretarantula · 09-17-2019, 03:23 PM

09-17-2019, 03:08 PMluketd Wrote: too bad I skimmed it

Heck

Tomasnz · 09-18-2019, 07:47 AM

Lol. Loved it.

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