Waiting It Out - Benny Rodriguez - Book 1

Happy Birthday, Benny

December 21. 

It's a Wednesday but we don't have to go to school. We got off for Christmas Break after last week and don't go back until the 2nd.

Benny had insisted we all play baseball today and we can't tell him no. It's a crime to tell someone they can't reasonably do something on their birthday. It is a bit nippy (cold) out but we all warmed up pretty quick.

He has also told me not to get him anything.

It's not like I'm not giving him anything, though. Gotta love loopholes.

"Alright, let's go! One more!" Ham shouts.

It's about 6 now so we're wrapping up the game.

Kenny looks around at everyone, checking to make sure we're ready. He winds up and pitches his heater which Benny hits into right feild. 

Yeah-Yeah catches it and throws the ball to Bertram who catches it right as Benny touches second base.

He starts racing towards me at third and Bertram throws the ball above his head for me to catch.

I catch the ball in my gloved left hand. I'm able to lightly tap Benny right before his foot lands on the base but he must've not felt it to know I just tagged him out.

I continue the play anyway and through the ball to Squints but Benny had already made it before he was able to catch it.

Benny reaches home base and all the boys run over to congratulate him. 

All except for Kenny... who walks over to me as I'm walking to the dugout.

I've already started packing up my things before he starts talking.

"You got him out, you know."

"I know. You think anyone else saw it?" I ask him.

"No. Why didn't you tell him?" he asks and I turn to see him with a knowing smirk plastered on his face.

I sigh and look over at the group to see Benny in the middle with a smile.

I subtly point to him and say, "That's why."

Kenny looks where I'm pointing, then turns back to me with a shit-eating grin. 

"Oh, okay. Anything to make your lover happy, mmm?" he teases.

I don't even bother snapping at him or telling him to shut up because it's completely accurate.

It made him happy and I'm happy knowing I actually tagged him out. I always told him I would... just didn't expect it on his brithday. Bit unfortunate.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When it was just me and Benny on the walk back, there was a confortable silence between us.

"You have any special bithday requests?" I ask Benny.

"Yes!" he says, suddenly excited. "I want you to sleep over. At my house."

"Why?"

"Because it's my birthday." he states quickly after I ask. "You wouldn't refuse such a simple birthday wish from your favorite guy, would you?"

I put a look of fake confusion on my face.

"It's not Yeah-Yeah's birthday." I tell him.

His face drops quickly after that.

"No! I'm kidding! You know you're my favorite." I reassure him.

"It wouldn't hurt you to say it everyonce in a while." he says in an obivously fake devistated tone with a face to match.