Then our next-door neighbors suggested a jaunt to Lowell to check out the UMass River Hawks. Why not? The Tsongas Center is a quick shot from our home in Concord, and this time we took Carlene and baby Cal, who has never seen a puck drop.
In the arena lobby, Carlene and I spotted the mascot, Rowdy, the River Hawk, greeting kids, and figured we would take the boy up for a cute picture. Cal didn’t see things that way. He started screaming as soon as he spotted the oversize bird with the fake, red head. I got the same reaction out of him last summer, on the Cape, when I tried to show him his grandfather gutting a big fish.
Our $7 tickets provided a prime view of the action. I went with our friend Mel to a concession stand so we could get the kids fed. Carlene hung with Lila and her buddies Lex and Toby. She also tried to keep Cal from escaping. For a few minutes, the boy seemed content to stare at the mini-blimp floating over the crowd and occasionally dropping coupons. Or maybe he was just mesmerized by the school band’s rendition of “Smoke on the Water.’’ But not long into the first period, Cal wanted his freedom.
I held Cal for a bit so we could watch the game from the upper reaches of Tsongas. I let Cal wander up and down the concrete stairs. He seemed fascinated by the kids standing along the front row, all the better to bang on the glass when a decent check sent some players caroming against the boards. I was able to distract Cal, and keep the other kids happy, by making our second period snack the always popular, cotton-candy-flavored Dippin’ Dots.
Still, Cal needed to walk more. Upstairs, he gripped my hand and began to scream as another costumed character pranced by. This one was dressed as the Cat in the Hat. Cal screamed and pressed himself into my shoulder, his eyes peeking over to keep watch on the costumed menace.
By now it was after 9 o’clock and we were able to observe one of the great rules of minor league or college hockey. Seats are cheap enough that you don’t have to feel guilty or wasteful about leaving early. A few minutes into the third period, we yanked our group up and headed out. I kept my eyes peeled for signs of the mascot. It was past Cal’s bedtime and there was no reason to risk a Rowdy nightmare.
