Live Love Lacrosse (14 page)

Chapter 23

LAX for Life!

IT FELT REALLY weird to Addie to warm up for a real game where she
might play more than three minutes, but she did her best to keep the
butterflies in her stomach in check.

“This is a nice field,” Addie said to Kimi as Taylor and Paige led
them in stretching.

“The Lassies are from the hoity-toity side of
town,” Kimi said.

“Oh, yeah? And where are we from?” Addie knew it sounded weird to
say “we,” but ever since her mother told them they would be staying in
Syracuse, she’d begun to think of Syracuse as her home.

“We’re from the happy, but poor side of town.”

Addie laughed and went back to stretching quietly.

Kimi’s parents had driven them to the field a few exits north on
I-81 to the Lake Oneida Lassies home field. On the drive up, Addie’s excitement
almost overwhelmed her. Her parents were getting back together; they were
permanently moving to Syracuse; and, of course, she was finally getting to play
lacrosse again after three weeks of torture. Torture she’d brought on herself,
but whatever. Captain Janeway had lived through worse torture and survived.
Like Janeway, Addie found that she had the inner strength to keep going. She
was moving on and figuring out a healthy lifestyle. And if she had her way, it
would be a lifestyle that included lacrosse.

After a brief meeting with Coach Marks, they began their warm ups.
This time, though, Addie was warming up to play the entire game. Even though
she and Kimi had worked out the entire week leading up to the game, she wasn’t
sure if she had the stamina to last the whole time. She was still overweight
and hadn’t been allowed to exercise for two whole weeks. But as she’d learned
from Dr. Wright, worrying about things that were out of your control was
pointless and might do more harm than good. Addie decided she would put forth
her best effort and, whatever that amounted to, she would know it was her best.
And she knew she could count on Kimi to continue to help her get in better and
better shape as the summer went on.

They started the scoop/roll/pass drill and it felt good. Addie’s
blood was really pumping when they moved on to the three on two drill. She,
Taylor, and Paige fed each other the ball and kept Brooke on her toes. Addie almost
scored a goal much to Brooke’s dismay. Brooke’s temper tantrums about getting
scored upon were becoming legendary. So much so that the rest of the team had
to find ways to not get sucked into her foul moods.

Taylor teased Brooke good-naturedly by saying, “Hey, Brooke, you
can get up now. The play is over.”

Brooke burst out laughing and then called back, “Hey, Taylor, your
mom called. You left your game at home.”

“Good one,” Taylor shouted back.

Kimi rolled her eyes and said to Addie, “They do this all the
time.”

“I’m shocked that Brooke doesn’t get mad.”

“Nah, she’s got a pretty good sense of humor.”

“Hey, Brooke,” Paige called. “Call us butter ’cause we on a roll!”

The drill continued, but in between set ups, the one-liners
continued.  Addie even threw one out, “Lacrosse? Is it in you?”

Kimi added, “All it takes is all you got.”

Brooke answered, “True victory is not a matter of chance, but a
matter of choice.”

“So choose wisely,” Taylor quipped.

The warm-up drills changed, but the one-liners did not. Paige
crossed her arms in a tough pose and said, “Lacrosse, enough said.”

Kimi threw out, “Lacrosse—the fastest game on two feet.”

Coach Marks was talking with the officials, but Coach Cairns blew
her whistle and called them in. “This is the loosest I’ve ever seen this team.
Now work together out there. Remember, that there is no I in team.”

“Good one, Coach,” Kimi said, making the team laugh.

Coach Cairns laughed with them. “Pass the ball around, make good
choices, and use each other. And hustle, hustle, hustle. This team is known for
their excellent conditioning.” She looked toward the officials. “Okay, looks
like we’re just about ready. Girls, remember that teamwork makes the dream
work.”

“Another good one, Coach,” Kimi said. Addie and her teammates
agreed.

Coach Cairns nodded purposefully at Kimi and then stepped out of
the circle.

Kimi put her hand in the middle and everyone put a hand on top of
hers. “Owls on three,” Kimi said. “One, two, three!”

“Owls!” the girls shouted followed by a chorus of hooting. They
were answered by hoots from their family, friends, and fans on the sideline.

Addie looked up and her heart swelled. Setting up chairs next to
Kimi’s parents were her own mother and father. She ran over to hug them.

“Thanks for coming, you guys,” Addie gushed as she slammed into
her father for a hug.

“We wouldn’t miss it, Weebs,” her father said.

“Dad!” she protested and pulled back, putting a hand on her hip.

“Sorry, honey. We’ll find you a better name, okay? How about
Lightning? Or Flash?”

“Have you seen me run, Dad? You’ll have to come up with something
else.”

She leaned in to hug her mother. “Hi, Mom. I’m so glad you guys could
make it. Where’s Troy?”

She pointed over her shoulder. Troy was having a catch with Taylor
and Paige’s little brother on the sideline. And it looked like Brooke’s brother
was about to join them. Good. She didn’t want Troy to be bored.

“Your dad and I decided that we’re not going to miss another
game,” her mother said.

“That’s right, honey,” her father said. “We’re sticking together
as a family from now on.”

“Sounds good to me, you guys,” Addie said. “Have you met Dr. and
Mrs. Takahashi?”

“We have,” her mother said, “and I am going to pick their brains
about good nutrition and eating.”

“Whoa,” Addie said. “You’ll be here for a week. Right, Mrs.
Takahashi?”

Kimi’s mother laughed. “And that’ll just cover
the introduction.”

Kimi’s father leaned over, holding an open bag toward Addie’s
father. “Would you like some Wasabi peas?”

Addie’s eyes shot wide open. “Go for it, Daddy! They’re really
good.”

Before she had the joy of watching her father ignite in flames,
Coach Cairns called to her. “Addie, get out there, girl. Low attack, right
side.”

“Really?” Addie’s stomach jumped to her throat. “I’m starting?”

Coach Cairns nodded. “Yep. Now, get out there. Get your stick
checked first.”

Addie managed to get her stomach out of her throat and headed to
the official who verified that the sticks were legal. After that, she headed to
her position.

“Oh, yeah,” Paige said as she saw Addie on the field. “We’ve got
this now!”

“Go for it, Addie,” Taylor encouraged from the center of the field
where she stood ready to take the opening draw.

“Yee haw!” Kimi called from midfield.

The referee set up the draw, backed out of
the way, and blew her whistle. The ball popped up and Taylor’s reach was longer
than the Lassies’ player and she took control. Down toward the opponent’s goal
they ran. Taylor tossed the ball to her sister, Paige, who cut across the field
diagonally. Addie ran behind the goal and prayed that she would catch the ball
if Paige passed it to her. She tried not to think about the fact that this was
the first time her parents were watching her play.

Paige faked a move back toward Taylor, but then spun and hit Addie
behind the goal. Much to her relief, Addie caught the pass. She didn’t have to
time to celebrate, though because a Lassies’ defender was heading toward her.
Addie broke toward the sideline and saw Taylor slide in behind the goal, so she
passed the ball to her. The pass was a little weak, but Taylor scooped it up
easily. She ran toward Addie, so Addie cleared out and headed toward the goal.
Taylor passed the ball to Kimi who was hanging around the front of the goal.
Kimi evaded one defender and then Addie saw the hole in the defense. The
defenders were all over Taylor and Paige, so Addie snuck in front of the goal,
stick up ready to receive. Addie almost missed Kimi’s pass, but snagged it out
of the air. A defender was on her right, so she turned to her left. The goalie
shifted to face Addie, but Addie was faster. She flicked the ball toward the
goal, aiming for the open space by the goalie’s hip. It went in. To her
amazement the ball went in.

“Goal!” Kimi shouted as she ran up to her. “Drop your stick. Drop
your stick.”

“Why?”

“Tradition! Do it!”

Addie dropped her stick at her feet. Her teammates were on her in
an instant in a group hug. She had never been patted so much in her life, but
it was the most amazing feeling. Her teammates cleared out one by one and
headed back for another draw.

“Don’t forget that,” Kimi said, pointing to Addie’s stick on the
ground.

Addie’s adrenaline was sky high. She picked up her stick and
headed back toward the center line.

As it would turn out, Addie dropped her stick three more times
while Taylor and Paige dropped theirs four times each. Even Kimi scored a goal
and Addie yelled at her to drop her stick, which she did gladly. Coach Marks
took her out of the game for a few minutes during both halves, but other than
that, Addie surprised everyone, including herself, by keeping up with her team
the rest of the way.

Kimi had been right. Addie had fallen in love, deeply in love,
with lacrosse. Coach Cairns said she was impressed at how easily Addie went
both right and left and figured out the other’s team’s weaknesses so quickly.
Addie figured she could do these things because of her ninja training with
Troy.

The official blew the whistle to end the game, and the Owls beat
the Lassies by a score of 12–2. Kimi linked arms with Addie as they walked off
the field together.

Kimi stopped abruptly. “Let’s make a pact.”

“A pact?”

“Yeah, a pact. Let’s agree to get so good at lacrosse that we make
the Olympic team and win a gold medal.”

“I like that idea, Kimi, but lacrosse is just an exhibition sport
right now.”

“It’s not an Olympic sport
yet
!”

“Okay, it’s a pact.” Addie put her hand out.

Kimi grabbed it and they shook on it. “Olympic gold?”

“Olympic gold,” Addie agreed.

They headed toward their waiting parents.

“Hey, Addie?” Kimi said.

“Yeah?”

“LAX on, Addie. LAX on.”

“You got it, Kimi. LAX for life!”

“Perfect,” Kimi said. She smacked Addie in the arm. “C’mon, let’s
run.”

Addie didn’t know how it was possible, but she mustered up the
strength and raced Kimi to the sidelines. Although Kimi won the race that time,
Addie vowed that one day she would win.

Epilogue

ADDIE DID HER best not to crack up while Kimi stood behind the
camera operator puffing out her cheeks and crossing her eyes. Addie cleared her
throat and focused on the pretty
America in the Morning
reporter who was
reviewing her notes before starting the interview.

Addie smoothed down the front of her sleeveless blouse and sat up
tall. The set of the New York City based morning show was smaller than it
looked on television, but at least the chair was comfortable. She did her best
to ignore the camera operators and other TV people scurrying around and took a
deep breath to calm her nerves. Playing in front of capacity crowds didn’t make
her nervous, but public speaking like this did. And she had been doing a lot of
that lately.

In no time the director counted down Missy’s cue. “Missy Raines
reporting for
America in the Morning
. I’m sitting here with Addison
Coleburn, starting attack player and leading scorer of the U.S. Women’s
National Lacrosse team. Her team is moments away from their inaugural trip to
the Olympic games this summer in Paris, France.” Still smiling, Missy turned
away from the camera and faced Addie. “Addie, are you excited that women’s
lacrosse has finally become an Olympic sport?”

“Absolutely. The Olympic Games are the singular greatest athletic
event in the world. To be a part of that?” Addie sucked air through her teeth.
“It’s an incredible honor to represent my country. And it’s also a great event
in the world of lacrosse since this is the inaugural year as an Olympic sport.”

Missy nodded. “When you were at Syracuse University you not only
made first team All-American, but you also graduated summa cum laude with a
Bachelor’s Degree in Nutrition Science.” She looked up from the notecards in
her hand and smiled at Addie. “It looks like you’ve got the brain to go with
the brawn. Speaking of brawn, I hear this is a regular occurrence on the team.
Make a muscle for us.”

Addie laughed but held up both arms and flexed. Her bicep muscles
were bulging.

Missy oohed at the display. Addie felt her face get warm and put
her arms down.

“We should all be as sculpted as you, Addie. So what got you
interested in nutrition?”

“I was a fat kid,” Addie said with a laugh. She was relieved when
Missy laughed, too. “The summer between my sixth and seventh grade year, I
discovered lacrosse. I was incredibly out of shape for an eleven year old. I
couldn’t keep up with the other girls, so naturally, I tried to lose weight.
But I didn’t know how, and I didn’t ask anyone for help because I thought I
could do it on my own. That didn’t work.” Addie frowned. “I tried to lose
weight in an incredibly unhealthy way and ended up in the hospital. After that
I met with a nutritionist who helped me understand my relationship with food.
My parents and my brother and I learned how to eat a variety of foods that gave
us the nutrition our bodies needed which in turn gave us the energy to live
life well. I even converted my grandmother to healthy eating, and that was a
real challenge, let me tell you. But she is healthy now, and so am I because I
found that eating nutritionally and exercising on a regular basis took the
unhealthy weight right off.”

“Sorry to interrupt,” Missy interrupted, “but when you mentioned
trying to lose weight in an unhealthy manner, you were talking about anorexia,
right?”

“I was heading that way, yes, but thankfully, my best friend
helped me come clean and be honest about what I was doing.” Addie shot a
grateful glance at Kimi who shot her an encouraging smile back.

“You’re referring to Kimi Takahashi, midfielder for Team USA,
aren’t you?”

Addie nodded, momentarily forgetting the director’s instructions
about answering all questions verbally instead of with head nods or gestures.
“Yes, Kimi and her parents helped me and my parents pay attention to the food
we were putting in our bodies. Kimi and her parents were the first ones to
teach me about proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, you name it.”

“All of that information must have been overwhelming for you at
eleven or twelve years old.”

“It was, but I found it fascinating. Kids’ minds are wide open and
ready for new information. And I got lucky, too. I was surrounded by a bunch of
people who helped me. By eating right and playing lacrosse, I built muscle and
lost fat. I learned how to pick good foods that helped me live at my optimum
best. Studying at Syracuse helped me further that understanding. I took so many
chemistry courses that I could probably be a chemist, too.”

Missy laughed. “And you are now a board certified nutritionist,
aren’t you?”

“Yes,” Addie said.

“Tell me about your book.” Missy held the cover toward the camera.
“I have to tell you; I laughed when I read the title. ‘Fuzzy Green Things: It’s
Okay to be Healthy.’ How in the world did you come up with that title?”

Addie laughed with Missy. “My brother Troy and I used to refer to
vegetables as fuzzy green things. Our family rarely ate them, preferring fast
and processed foods. I wrote this book to help kids, or anyone really,
understand the basic nutritional needs of our bodies. It’s the book I needed
when I was a kid. There is so much information coming at us from so many
different sources about what to eat and what not to eat that it can be
information overload.”

“Your mother wrote the introduction, didn’t she?”

“Yes, she’s a nurse working at Syracuse Medical Hospital.”

“And she says,” Missy looked down at her notes, “that many of the
reasons people land in the hospital is because of nutritional deficiencies
which turn into bigger problems. She said, and I quote, ‘People need to educate
themselves about food and its benefits for the body. Many of the people I nurse
are ignorant or just plain stubborn about healthy eating. The ignorant folks
need guidance while the stubborn ones need to realize that while some
recreational eating is okay, it isn’t sustaining.’” Missy put her notes down.
“Recreational eating. I love that line.”

“We all do it, but I learned that eating foods just for taste
alone is disastrous.”

“Give us some of your highlights. Best food.”

“That’s a tough one. Different foods bring you different things,
but if I had to pick one, I’d say broccoli because it has powerful
antioxidants, calcium, anti-inflammatory properties, and helps make your body
less acidic.”

“Worst food?”

“Sodas and sugary drinks. They are the
absolute worst thing you can put in your body. Drink water, people. Drink water.”

Missy nodded. “Best exercise?”

“Any.” Addie smiled, but realized she should expand on her answer.
“If I had to choose one, I’d say walking. It’s easy, requires no equipment, and
everyone can do it. But if you can’t walk for some reason, then just keep moving.
Lift your legs while watching TV. Do arm curls with the TV remote.”

Missy laughed. “So move it or lose it, right?”

“Exactly.”

“Now, in your book, you talk a lot about balance. Balance in food,
balance in exercise. Balance in all things, really.

“Yep,” Addie said. “Balance in mind, body, and soul. I play
lacrosse, but I also do yoga. And I eat a variety of foods now. Back then I
didn’t. I was never exposed to it, and it’s a rare kid that’s going to explore
new foods on her own.”

“What about pizza?”

“Are you asking if I eat it?”

Missy nodded. Apparently she’d forgotten the director’s
instructions as well.

“Yes, of course I eat pizza. But I don’t eat it every day, and I
usually balance it out with a side salad or something. And I don’t eat more
than my body wants. If I ate too much, I wouldn’t feel well. I think people
don’t realize how bad they feel on a regular basis. They simply aren’t in touch
with their bodies. It’s not normal to groan when you stand up from a chair or
to get winded when you walk from your car to the grocery store. People have
simply gotten used to feeling bad and know nothing different. That’s exactly
how it was when I was a kid. Before I got help navigating all the mixed
messages about healthy eating and healthy activity, I landed in an ambulance.
Once I did get help, I learned to shut out all the garbage and listen carefully
to my own body.”

“Well, I for one am going to read your book again, and learn how
to listen. And I know I speak for everyone here at
America in the Morning
,
when I wish you and the entire women’s national lacrosse team the best of luck
at the Olympics games later this summer.”

“Thank you,” Addie said and smiled.

“Cut,” the director said. “That’s a wrap. Thank you, Ms. Coleburn
and thank you, Missy.”

Addie smiled and stood up. Kimi bounded over as a tech undid the
microphone clipped to Addie’s shirt. A second tech did the same for Missy.

“That was so good, Addie,” Kimi said.

“Thanks, Kimi.”

“Girls,” Missy Raines gushed, “I am a real fan. Wow, I shouldn’t
call you girls, should I? You’re both beautiful young women. Early twenties,
right?”

Kimi and Addie nodded.

“I’ve never played lacrosse myself, but I have thoroughly enjoyed
watching your team play. Your World Cup win a couple of years ago was
phenomenal and now you’re getting to go to the Olympics. Aren’t you stoked?”

“Absolutely,” Addie answered. “We hope to represent America well.”

“And show the world the awesome sport of lacrosse,” Kimi added.

“I imagine that you and your teammates are ambassadors of sorts.”

“In a way, we are,” Addie said. “Our team motto is ‘Live, Love,
Lacrosse.’”

“I love that,” Missy said. “It sums up your idea about balance,
doesn’t it?”

Addie nodded.

“And the whole world will be watching,” Kimi added. “If we can
churn up interest in the sport we love, then we’ve done our job. Oh, and I
guess we should bring home a gold medal, too, right, Addie?”

Addie and Kimi exchanged a glance. It had become a dream of theirs
somewhere in the middle of their first Onondaga Owls season together, the
summer they first met. “We’re going to try, Kimi. We’re going to try.”

“And as far as this book,” Missy said, “I think you have a hit
here. You say you wrote it for kids, but I’m going to learn from it, too.” Her
assistant stepped up and said she was needed on another set. She said her
goodbyes and then mumbled under her breath, “Balance. It’s all about balance.”

“Balance, schmalance,” Kimi quipped. “What it’s really about is .
. .”

“Smooth poops,” Addie and Kimi squealed together, turning into the
eleven year olds they truly still were inside.