Under the Mango Tree: 101 Tales (4)

PLAY BALL

Challenge No.69 - Join the Club.

Write a scene or story that involves a character being in some sort of club.

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Baseball had come to Mario's school with the arrival of Johnson Hardwick, a Peace Corps volunteer.

"Baseball?" The class was unsure about the idea.

"At least give it a try." Johnson urged.

"Girls too?" Misha asked.

"For sure! It's a game for all! I know you've seen it on TV."

"It's like rounders," Janie said.

"Rounders?" Mario said.

"Rolly you too fat to play!" Kent poked the boy.

"Of course, he can play!" Johnson defended.

"I can?" Mario was cautious.

"Of course, you can and yes, we use a bat," Johnson replied.

"Let's do this." Janie urged. "Come on." She grabbed a bat.

"Wait! We need to pick teams. Who wants to play?" Misha called out.

"Who's going to be captain?" Joe eyed them all.

"Not needed." Johnson was happy. There was going to be a game.

"NO CAPTAIN?!" Shock rippled through the class.

"In cricket, we have a captain," Kenny said.

"Yeah!" A few voices agreed.

"So, who says what?" Emma wondered.

"Once three people get put out by the pitcher then the next team gets to bat," Johnson explained.

"What's a pitcher?" Emma asked.

"The bowler," Jenny replied.

"Why didn't he say so?" Emma grumbled.

"So how we going to pick the teams?!" Kenny demanded.

"We'll dip names from a hat." Johnson offered.

The kids considered the option for a moment. "Okay." They agreed.

"Right! Just in case you all agreed, I have your names in a bag. Gather around. One at a time."

"I doh want Rolly on our team. He too fat to run!" Joe announced.

"He will play," Johnson warned.

"LET'S DO THIS!" Marlon screeched and ran into the schoolyard.

"YEAAAAAHH!" The ten-year-olds followed.

The first challenge was the bat.

"It's round!"

"Yes."

"Why?!"

"It just is."

"Cricket bats are flat."

"I know."

"It's hard to hit the ball!"

"It takes practice. Don't run with the bat!"

"Why?! In cricket, we run with the bat!"

"Yes. But this is not cricket. This is baseball."

And so it went with poor Johnson navigating the rules of the game and the indignation of the children.

"We're down to the bottom of the ninth inning and the game is tied. No one was on and two were out. Who's up to bat?" Johnson was also keeping score.

"Me." A small voice said.

"Oh, man!" Kenny bawled. "It's Rolly up to bat! We're gonna lose!"

"No. If Mario doesn't get the winning run, we'll go to a tenth inning."

"Huh?! You said the game had nine innings!" Marcia accused the teacher.

"No ties. We play until someone wins." Johnson said.

Pete threw the ball and Mario swung.

"STRIKE!" Johnson called. He was the umpire too.

They got to three balls and two outs. Mario was either going to walk, be out or score. This was it.

Pete threw.

Mario swung.

CRACK!

The ball flew through the air.

As one, the entire class turned to Johnson.

"HOME RUN! THIS GAME IS OVER!"

"WE WON. ROLLY WON THE GAME!" Kenny screamed.

© 8 May 2022

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