Heidi let out an exasperated sigh as she questioned her husband, "How can you just sit there and read your stupid newspaper?"
"Hellooooo can you hear me?" she repeated.
"I'm tired," Gary replied defensively, "I just need to relax."
Heidi didn't miss a beat as she continued, "You have no idea what repercussions this decision is going to have. I've heard them talking about a criminal investigation and it's going to be your head on the chopping block!"
Gary fell silent as Heidi sat back and glared. "I'm not the only one you know," he protested.
Breathlessly Heidi ranted, "Even our Prime Minister has made comments. He thinks the NHL should do something about the violence. That's you - THE commissioner. Everyone is expecting you to do something."
Gary put down his paper as he stared blankly at Heidi's furious face, "Why do you care? You don't even like hockey."
"I care because someone is going to get killed and I don't want that person's death hanging over us. Did you see the picture in the paper? It looked like he was dead!" Heidi cried.
"You know as horrible as Pacioretty's injury was, it's just part of the physical game of hockey. You wouldn't understand - you're a woman."
"Maybe I've got more sense because I'm a woman. I sure wouldn't just sit there reading my paper while a young man's life is at stake."
Gary casually replied, "Pacioretty is out of the hospital. He was only in for a day. Chara has already said it wasn't intentional."
"Of course he's going to say that. He doesn't want to be held criminally responsible," Heidi pointed out in disgust.
Gary shifted to look Heidi in the eye, "You know it would never get a conviction if it went to trial. You have to prove there was intent to hurt."
"You can't tell me that it was without thought," Heidi's voice rose to a shout, "there was already bad blood between the two players and he checked him right into the support pole. It's got to stop some where and if the top guns turn the other way, where will it end?"
"Are you finished?" asked Gary, "it doesn't concern you."
Heidi's eyes and cheeks were red as she spoke with disdain, "It concerns us if someone is critically injured or hurt. It concerns our family, our jobs, our life, not to mention the lives of the players and their families."
Gary's silence filled the room.
"What if you lose your job?" Heidi asked gravely.
Gary looked for a long time at Heidi. At last he shouted angrily, "Is that where this is leading? You're concerned about MY job."
Heidi didn't notice Gary's note of sarcasm as she continued to explain herself. "Well it would affect our lifestyle if you didn't make the big bucks. We do have our trip to Europe and my birthday coming up. I had ordered that diamond ring - you didn't forget did you?"
"You know, I thought you were worried about these hockey players. My mistake."
"Well you certainly aren't worried either. Look at you sitting there with your paper," pouted Heidi.
"You know I'm just doing my job," snapped Gary, "now leave me alone."
