"Uh huh." Her new friend is confident, at least that much can be said. Carrie can appreciate that. She smiles placidly, bending again to grab one of the pucks as the table whirs to life between them.

"First round I'll go easy, til you get the hang of it."

That's what she says, anyway, but then almost before she's done speaking, she's slapped the puck onto the table and swept her paddle toward it, knocking it directly for the opposite goal.