(two) Oliver Barrett IV Ipswich,Massachusetts Age 20 Subject:General Studies Dean's List:'61,'62,'63 First Team:'62,'63 Career Aimaw Third Year Student Height:5 feet 11 inches Weight:185 pounds. By now Jenny had read these details about me in the programme...i hoped.I had ma de quite sure that Vic the team manager gave her one. "My god,Barrett,is this your first date?" "Shut your mouth,Vic,or I'll shut it for you" As we practised a few shots on the ice,I did not wave to her(I wanted to loo k cool) or even look her way.But i think she thought i was looking her way.Or wh y did she remove her glasses? By the middle of the second quarter of the game,we were winning 0-0.That is, Davey Johnson and i were getting ready to score a goal.The Dartmouth players sen sed this,and they started to play a rougher game Maybe they could break a bone o r two before we scored.The fans were screaming for blood already.And in hockey t his really means blood.Or,failing that,a goal.I have always felt that it is my d uty to provide them with both. A1 Redding,the Dartmouth centre man,rushed across our blue line.I banged int o him,got control of the puck and started off down the ice.The fans were really screaming for blood now.I could see Davey Johnson on my left.But i decided to ta ke the puck all the way,because the Dartmouth goal-keeper had been terrified of me ever since we played against each other at prepschool.Before i could get a sh ot at the goal,two big Dartmouth men were after me.And in a moment there we were ,the three of us,banging away at the puck and at each other.It had always been m y practice,in moments like this,to hit out hard at anything wearing the colours of the enemy team.And that was what i was doing now.The puck was somewhere about ,but at the moment we were all too busy attaching each other. The referee blew his whistle.Foul!"You! Two minutes in the penalty box!" I looked up.He was pointing at me.Me!!What had I done,to make that referee g ive me a penalty? "Come on,ref,what did i do?" He was not interested in further conversation.He was calling to the officer' s desk:"Number Seven,two minutes in the penalty box for holding."He made wild si gnals with his arms. I argued a bit,of course.The crowd expects you to argue,even when it is obvi ous that you were in the wrong.The referee waved me off the ice.Burning with hel pless anger,I went towards that penalty box.As i climbed in ,i heard the voice o n the public address:"Penalty,Barrett of Harvard.Two minutes for holding." The crowed shouted.Several Harvard fans unkindly suggested that the referee needed galssed.I just sat,trying to get my breath back,not looing up or even out on to the ice.There,the Harvard team were playing without me. "Why are you sitting here when all your friends are out playing?" The voice was Jenny's.I took no notice of her.Instead,i called out to my tea m:"Come on,Harvard,get that puck." "What did you do wrong?" I turned and answered her.She was my date,after all. "I tried too hard." And i went back to watching the rest of my team trying to hold off A1 Reddin g's determined attempts to score. "Is that something to be ashamed of?" "Jenny,please.I'm trying to think." "About what?" “About how I’m going to flatten that A1 Redding as soon as I get back on t he ice.” I looked out on to the ice again. “Are you a dirty player?” My eyes were on our goal,which the Dartmouth players were attacking strongly . I couldn’t wait to get out there again.Jenny continued: “Would you ever ‘fl atten’me ?” I answered without truning: “I will right now if you don’t shut up” "I'm leaving.Goodbye." By the time I turned,she had disappeared. As I stood up to look round for he r,I was informed that my two-minute penalty was over. I jumped out of the box,an d back on to the ice. The crowd shouted a welcome. Barrett's back,all's well with the team.Whereve r she was hiding,Jenny would hear the crowd shouting for me.So who cares where s he is. Where is she? A1 Redding hit a murderous shot at our goal mouth.Our goal-keeper knocked th e puck away towards Gene Kennaway.Gene passed it in my direction. As i went afte r that puck i thought i just had time to look up at the stands and search for Je nny.I did. I saw her.She was there. The next thing i knew,i was flat on the ice.Two Dartmouth players had banged into me and i sat down hard on the ice,in front of everyone.Barrett down!I coul d hear the Harvard fans draw in their breath.I could hear the blood-thirsty Dart mouth fans shouting,"Hit them again!Hit them again!" What would Jenny think? And now Dartmouth had the puck around our goal again.Again our goal-keeper h it their shot away.Kennaway pushed the puch at Johnson,and he shot it down to me .(I had stood up by this time.)Now the crowd went wild.This had to be a goal.I t ook the puck and went at top speed across the Dartmouth blue line.Two Dartmouth players were coming straight at me. "Go,Oliver,go! Knock their heads off!" I heard Jenny's scream above the crowd.It was madly,beautifully violent.I go t past one Dartmouth man,and banged into the other so hard that it took his brea th away.Then, instead of shooting like that,off balance,I passed the puck to Dav ey Johnson.He had come up on my right side and was ready.Davey banged that puck into the Dartmouth net.Goal for Harvard! In a moment we were all kissing and shouting and jumping up and down and ban ging each other on the back.The crowd was screaming with excitement.And that Dar tmouth man was still sitting down.The fans threw programmes on to the ice.That g oal really finished Dartmouth. Not really; that player got up again as soon as h e got his breath again.But after that we murdered them,seven goals to zero. If i had a home at Harvard,it was Dillon Field House.Every afternoon of my c ollege life i walked into that place,greeted my friends,threw off all the rules of polite society,and turned into a big,rough hockey player.It was great to put on my boots and my good old number seven shirt and get out on to the ice. As i was lucky enough to have a bad knee(yes,lucky.My bad knee saved me from two years in the Army.),I had to take care of it after the game.As i sat and wa tched the hot bath-water rising around my knee,i could examine my cuts and bruis es(I enjoy them,in a way),and think about anything and everything-or nothing.Ton ight i could think about the goal i had scored,and the one i had helped Davey to score. I let down my knee whole pleasantly-aching body into the water.I closed my e yes and just sat there,up to my neck in warmth,Ahhhh! My God! Jenny would be waiting outside.I hope! Still waiting.God!How long ha d i been enjoying my warm bath while she was out there in the icy cold of a New England winter? I got dressed as fast as i could.I wasnt even quite dry as i pus hed open the center door of Dillon and came outside. The cold air hit me. My God,it was cold.And dark.There was still a small gro up of fans outside.Most were old hockey players,the ones who in their hearts nev er leave Harvard.Men like old Jordan Jencks.They come to every game,at home or a way.How do they do it ?I mean,Jenck is a big banker. And why do they do it? "That was quite a fall you had,Oliver." "Yes,Mr Jencks.You know the sort of game those fellows play." I was looking around for Jenny.Had she left and walked all the way back to h er dorm alone? "Jenny?" I took three or four steps away from the fans,and looked about for her.Sudde nly she came out from behind a bush.Her thick coat was pulled up high about her ears. "Hey,Preppie,it's cold out here." Was i glad to see her!"Jenny!" Without thinking,I kissed her lightly in the cheek. "Did i say you could" she said. "What?" "Did i say you could kiss me?" "Sorry.I was just excited." "I wasnt." We were more or less alone out there.The fans had gone back to their cars,an d it was dark.And cold.And late. I kissed her again.But not on the cheek this ti me,and not lightly.It lasted a nice long time.When we stopped kissing,she said," I dont like it." "What dont you like?" "The fact that i like it." We walked all the way back to her dorm.I have a car,but she wanted to walk. Ray Stratton was there when i got back to the dorm.He was playing cards with some of his football-playing friends when i came in . "Hullo,animals,"I greeted them. They replied with suitable animal noises. "How many goals did you get,Ollie?"asked Ray. "I scored one,and i made one,"I replied. "With Cavilleri?" "That's none of your business,"I replied hotly. "Who's that?"said Ray."Music student." "I know that one,"said another of the footballers."She plays the piano with the Music Society." "What does she play with Barrett?" More laughter and animal noises. "Genltmen,"i said as i left them,"get lost." I closed my door,to another wave of animal noises.I took off my shoes,lay ba ck on the bed and telephoned Jenny's dorm. We spoke in whispers. "Hey,Jen..." "Yes?" "Jen... what could you say if i told you..."i stopped. She waited,"I think.. .i'm in love with you." She was silent for a few moments.Then she answered very softly,"I'd say you were completely mad."She put down the receiver. I wasnt unhappy, Or surprised.