"Spoiled Brat"
Let me start by saying 1 thing. Being a 90's kid was/is the biggest blessing in disguise for Todd. That perfect stage between technological advances and the stone age. Days when playing street hockey in the driveway was the #1 afternoon activity on the docket and you were extremely lucky to get to play your original Nintendo if you got the games to work after blowing in them for 20 minutes. The days when you got your first cell phone at 16 years old and the only function on the damn thing was to make a phone call. Long story short, for better or for worse, technology has changed every aspect of our lives. Need proof, look no further than Todd's Friday afternoon adventure to Pure Hockey.
Sitting down waiting for an employee to grab me a pair of skates that I wanted, I couldn't help but overhear this little piece of shit, who was all of 8 years old, complaining about what type of skate he was going to get. He didnt want the 400 dollar Reebok skates, or the 350 dollar CCM pair. He wanted the 500 dollar Bauer's because they were the coolest pair of skates in the establishment. Kid was telling his mother that she "doesn't know what she is talking about" when it comes to equipment. He didn't like his brand new skates he got last year so now hes getting another brand new pair and he says something like that? What fucking balls on this kid.
In the rear of the store, another kid was throwing a tantrum because his dad told him he couldn't have a brand new $150 Easton composite stick because he already had 2 sticks at home. Hey ass hole, try using the Montreal log that is the only stick I own. Serious Gonads.
So now Todd is thinking to himself....."Was I that much of a picklesmoocher when I was 8 years old?" The answer is that I dont know. As a kid its all about me me me. When you grow older you learn a few things. Like when your parents are shelling out 1500 dollars for brand new hockey equipment, you better fucking kiss their ass until your lips are chapped. No back talk. Straight respect.
Wait until these kid are in Todd's situation (+1 for becoming a state champ, -1 for being on the 8 year college plan), dead broke trying to finagle a way to get a half decent skate for under 250 dollars. Not even allowing myself to look at the new stick aisle because that is at least 2 paychecks away. He would have a heart attack knowing that some kid is going to have a nicer stick and cooler skates because Mom and Dad refinanced their home so he could get new equipment and play on a select team in the summer. (note: anyone can play select because "if you give them a check, you are a select"). Wait until he hasn't had new skates in 7 years and he can barely skate because his rivets are so rusty they are snapping every shift. Seriously, if I was ever like that as a kid I'm going to march right down to St. Peters Church and say 10 Hail Mary's, four Acts of Contrition, and six Our Father's because it must be HELL for those parents to deal with those kids.
