Home Base

See Ya Later, Kiddo

     CLINK! I faintly see a small round shadow fly above the fence line. I close my eyes and take in my surroundings. The sound of the bat hitting the ball, the cheer from the crowd, and the faint chants coming from one team's dugout brought a sense of calm and ease. I missed this.

     "Come on Jaden! We've already missed the start of the game," Dad calls out, dragging me back into the present. I jog to catch up to him and my little brothers. Danny reaches up towards me, and I hoist him up onto my shoulders while my dad hangs onto the hand of his twin, Kyle. As we make our way into the stadium we find some seats towards the front row. I settle in to watch what would be my team pretty soon.

     The game announcer's low voice came over the speakers. "Ladies and gentlemen please help me welcome to the plate Number one for the Melaney University Twisters." The crowd starts to stand and I can't see who is in the warm up circle. "From small town West Texas, please give a round of applause for Jacqueline Alvarez!" The crowd erupts, and I nearly choke on the water I'm sipping. This dark haired Latina wearing a white, red, and black jersey runs up to home plate waving and smiling at the crowd. Little Danny starts jumping in my lap, and clapping.

     "You'll be out there soon, kiddo," my dad assures me with a firm hand on my shoulder. I wasn't worried about that. I was one of the best players on our high school team. The only one that ever came close to me was, well, Jacqueline. What is she doing all the way out here?

     Jacqueline readies herself in the batter's box holding the bat over her right shoulder. A look of pure focus replaces the big smile from earlier. The crowd grows quiet as the pitcher takes the mound. The pitcher sends the yellow ball flying towards the catcher.

     CLINK! The sharp metallic sound of the bat rings out across the stadium. I jump to my feet to see if the ball is gonna make it. It soars in a big arch, and lands just outside the fence. Everyone cheers and claps as Jacqueline brings herself and one other runner home. Kyle, who was falling asleep in my dad's arms, startled at the sudden noise. Danny reaches up for me to hold him, and I swing him up onto my shoulders.

     "JACKY!" he yells and waves. She turns, and we lock eyes. My breath catches in my throat. Her smile falls until it doesn't quite meet her eyes anymore, and she gives Danny a small wave. I let my gaze fall to the floor, and set Danny back in my dad's lap.

     The Twisters won against the Lions in the scrimmage 15-13. If that's how they play in the beginning of the year then I can't wait until I join them on the field. Along with the excitement came a pit of anxiety growing in my stomach.

     "Everything alright there, Jaden?" Dad asks while we are driving back to the hotel.

     "Yeah, I'm fine. Just tired from the day" I have idea if my efforts to sound normal were working.

     "You got another big day tomorrow." Dad glanced in the rear view mirror to see if the boys were still passed out. "We gotta get you checked into MU so you can find your dorm. We gotta get you unpacked, tour the campus, find your classes..." He kept rattling off the list of things to do for campus check-in. I just turn to look out the window and rub my hand along the short scratchy hairs at the base of my neck. It's a nervous habit that I have.

     I open the door to the hotel and lay a tuckered out Danny next to his brother Kyle on the left side bed in the room. He turns and grumbles a little bit before going back to sleep. I sit next to my dad on the bed next to the window where he was watching the news. He had insisted that he sleep next to the window, because he doesn't trust people to not break into a hotel. It was already dark out, but I am the furthest from sleeping I've ever been since my very first State softball game.