visit."
"Don't worry about it, Balto," Jenna put in. "Mika is starting a new life now, but he'll still be a part of yours."
"Where?" Balto asked.
Jenna lifted her right front paw and placed it over Balto's heart.
"Right here," replied Jenna. "Mika will still be with you in your heart. And I'm sure you'll still be in his. After all, you knew what he was going through ever since he first came to Nome. You were his first real friend here in Alaska."
"Yes I was," Balto add.
They began nuzzling each other.
"I love you, Jenna," said Balto.
"I love you too, Balto," said Jenna in response.
For the next few minutes, they just looked out at the Norton Sound with their heads together. Afterwards, they headed back into town.
Two days after taking off, Mikko's plane touched down at an airport near Detroit. Kevin Taylor, Mika's old hockey buddy, was there to greet them.
"Welcome back, Wild Child!" he exclaimed.
"Great to be back, Kevin," Mika responded as the two did a forearm bash. "Oh, Kevin, this is my older brother Mikko."
"Hi," they both said simultaneously as they shook hands.
Kevin had gotten his own apartment earlier this year and had been looking for a roommate. Before coming down to Detroit, Mika had spoken to Kevin about rooming arrangements and agreed on the whole thing.
With all the introductions out of the way, Kevin help Mika take his bags to Kevin's car. It was a Ford Model T. Mikko had to leave soon afterwards.
"Take care, little bro," Mikko said to his younger brother.
"I will, Mikko," Mika replied.
Mikko turned around, hopped in his plane, and took off. Mika followed Kevin to his car and got in. Their next stop was Kevin's new apartment.
Kevin's apartment building was located in downtown Detroit. It was a brick building that look like it was very well maintained, both outside and inside. Kevin's exact room in the apartment was on the third floor. Both were exhausted by the time they got there, having to carry all of Mika's stuff in two trips.
"Whoa," said Mika as he got his first look at the apartment. "Nice digs, man."
"Ah, you like it, eh?" Kevin asked in response to Mika's comment.
"I sure do," Mika replied.
"So, when's your first practice session with the Red Wings?" Kevin asked.
"Wednesday," Mika responded as he grabbed a glass out of cabinet to get himself some water.
"You looking forward to it?" Kevin asked.
"Oh, yes, definitely!" Mika answered back.
He then just kicked back and sat down on the couch, thinking about what lie in store in his new life.
The preseason practices and training went well for Mika. His performances were so impressive, they won him a spot in the starting lineup at the position of right wing. When he played hockey back home in Finland, and in Michigan, that was the position he usually played. That's an offense position. The other offense positions are center and left wing. The defense positions are left and right defensemen. And of course, there's the most important defense position of them all: The goaltender.
Eventually, game day for the first game of the season came. It was at home, so it was to be played in Detroit. Their opponent today would be the New York Rangers.
Before heading to the rink for the game, Mika and Kevin went to the same airport where Mikko had dropped Mika about a month ago. Mika didn't know what the deal was until he saw a familiar sight parked near the hanger. Mikko's plane was there. Mika's other older brother, Ari, was also there. Apparently, they heard about what their lounger brother had accomplished up in Nome and about his decision to play professional hockey in America. They had come over to see him play his first game.
"Hey, guys," said Mika. "Didn't expect to see you here."
"I wasn't sure if you guys got the letter I sent you two," added Kevin.
"We sure did," responded Mikko.
"You sent them a letter and never told me?" Mika asked Kevin, sounding surprised. "Why did you do that?"
"Well, you were very busy with training and getting familiarized with the team, so I took the liberty of sending one myself," Kevin replied.
"And that's not all," added Ari. "Guess who else back home found out?"
"Don't tell me you brought the entire 1923-24 Kokkola Rangers team with you," Mika said.
"Nope," put in Ari. "Even better."
Mikko reentered the plane and came out a few seconds later. Behind him, a face Mika knew very well - but hadn't seen in nearly four years - came out. Unbeknownst to him, Mikko had gotten in touch with Mika's former girlfriend, Rikko, and informed her about what had happened to Mika up in Alaska. And he even asked her about going to see Mika's first NHL game. She didn't hesitate to accept.
They ran towards each other and hugged. Both of them were very happy to see each other. After all the "hellos" and such were out of the way, they finally spoke.
"I heard what you did up in Nome, Mika," said Rikko. "You're famous, now."
"I hadn't counted on that happening," said Mika. "I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. So, how's life treating you lately?"
"It's been okay," Rikko replied. "I'm still into photography, even landed a job at a local newspaper in Helsinki. I managed to move on after you left, but it wasn't easy. Every time I went out with some other guy I kept thinking of you."
"Yeah, me too," Mika put in. "I haven't had it so easy in that area, either. One of them ended because my hockey playing got in the way. I haven't dated anyone since."
Mikko, Ari, and Kevin decided to leave them alone for a while.
"So, how did Mikko get the word to you?" Mika asked.
"Well, Ari had a hand in it," Rikko replied. "He actually told Mikko and the Mikko told me."
"Ari never really could keep his mouth shut," Mika added, laughing slightly. Rikko couldn't help but grin at that remark.
"Look, Mika," Rikko added. "It hasn't been all good for me lately. The paper I work for has been on hard times lately. There have been some layoffs, and I'm worried I might be among those that gets cut. I've been thinking that since I was coming here, I might look for work here, too."
Mika was caught by surprise.
"What? Are you serious?" he asked. "What about your life back home in Finland?"
"I'm just thinking about it," Rikko replied. "Besides, if I can find a job like that there, I'm sure I can here. And if I did wind up here, at least we won't be too far apart."
"Yeah," put in Mika as he put his right hand on Rikko's left cheek. "We wouldn't."
As Mika kept his right hand on Rikko's left cheek, she did likewise as they started moving towards each other, culminating in a kiss. The last time they had shared one was the night that Mika left for America, but considering the circumstances, it was less than enjoyable for both of them. This one, however, was enjoyable. After about a minute, their lips separated and both were breathing hard from the exhilaration.
"I missed you so much," said Rikko as she hugged Mika.
"Me too," Mika replied as he hugged her in return. "Me too."
Still hugging each other, they leaned in and kissed again, letting last somewhat longer than the first one. Unbeknownst to them, Kevin entered the hanger.
"Oh, good," said Kevin sounded a little relieved. "For a minute, I thought something bad happened to you two."
"Why did you think that?" Mika asked.
Kevin shrugged his shoulders before speaking again. "Say, uh, I don't want to be called 'Mr. Party Wrecker' or anything, but Mika, you have to be at the rink in an hour."
Mika looked down at his watch and noticed that Kevin was right.
"Oh, crap!" he exclaimed lightly. Come on, let's go!"
Eventually, Kevin, Mika and Rikko emerged from the hanger carrying Rikko's own bags. Mikko and Ari already had theirs in the trunk of Kevin's car. Eventually, they all piled in to the Model T and headed for the rink.
The pregame shoot-around went as planned and lasted until ten minutes before game time. In the final minutes before the game was to begin, Mika had a moment alone in the locker room's bathroom stall. He spent it doing his personal business, followed by some thinking. Mainly it was wondering what might lie ahead for him.
"Well," he thought, "Here goes everything."
He came out and joined his teammates in the hallway leading out of the locker room to the rink. Kevin, Mikko, Ari, and Rikko had already taken their seats in the stands.
Eventually, the teams were called out to the ice and the starting lineups for both teams were read off by the announcer. When Mika heard his name called, he skated out onto the ice and joined his fellow starters.
After all the opening ceremonies were completed, it was time to start the game. Mika took up his position to the right of center ice from the direction he was facing. Before the game started, he looked up into the crowd to see where Kevin, Mikko, Ari, and Rikko were seated. The only one of them he could spot was Ari.
"Go get 'em, little bro," Ari said, hoping that Mika would somehow hear him.
Mika nodded in response before turning his attention back to center ice. The referee had the puck in hand and was to do the opening face-off. The Finn's ice blue eyes were squarely focused on the ref and the two centers. The puck dropped, and the game was underway - as was Mika's career in the National Hockey
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