Never Too Late

Chapter Seventeen

Johan sat at the back of the school library, by the window studying intently after class as he usually did. Briefly, he looked up to stare at the clouds drifting by as sunlight poured in from the half-open window. Turning back to his notes, he flipped through his science books and worked on his homework which was barely a challenge for him. He was really thankful for his teacher recommending to the principal that he begin regular classes because now he could challenge himself although it was only moderate. In the special classes he used to attend, the work he received was so mediocre and stagnant that he felt tireless.

Pausing to recheck his notes, he remembered how his classwork over time became more difficult yet manageable, all the time not realizing his teacher was giving him twelfth-grade level tests. It had gotten to a point where he had passed so many that she began giving him college entry-level work without him realizing. He smiled to himself while remembering this because although he was home-schooled, he strictly followed the high school curriculum, so he never considered himself behind his peers, and with his history of always being at the top of his classes since elementary school, his current grades seemed fitting. He hadn't been excited about school in a long time and although he spent most of his time studying, he was very content.

While he stretched and turned another page to begin taking more notes, he heard footsteps approaching him. Glancing up, he saw his brother who normally would've been at baseball practice at this time.

"Luke?" He asked, confused, wondering if he had somehow lost his way en route to the baseball field.

"Hey, do you remember when you said you would be willing to try out for the team sometime?" He said mischievously.

"No," Johan said bluntly after sensing his brother was up to something.

"Well, tryouts are today! Come on, it'll be great!" He said already helping his brother pack up his books.

Johan sat rigid in his seat, both irritated and annoyed by his brother's persistence and lack of respect for his studying. Eventually, he gave in and decided to go with him, but he wasn't excited about playing in front of a group of people. Once he changed into his gym clothes and went with his brother to the baseball pitch, he was surprised to see Noel and a few more of his brother's friends there.

"All your friends play baseball too?" Johan asked confused.

"Most of them," his brother said as he threw him a bat and went ahead of him.

Johan stared at the white lines drawn around the field, the patches of dirt and grass, and the mound in the middle. The field was bigger than he imagined and the looming benches in the stands made him realize just how much pressure his brother must've been under whenever he played. Looking over at Luke, he seemed well-adjusted to the pitch and wasn't fazed by anything around him.

"Hey Johan, I'm glad you could join," Noel said running up to him. "I'm glad your brother convinced you to come outside for once."

"I'm not staying very long," he said with a stoic expression but Noel laughed.

"Sure, okay but follow me," he told him before pulling him along before he could protest.

Noel took him around the pitch into the dugout where he saw his brother talking to an older man in a baseball cap.

"Luke, did your brother play Little League baseball?" He asked as Luke shook his head and smiled.

"No coach, but you can give him a chance." He tried convincing him.

"Alright, if he's related to you he must be decent enough," he said just as he noticed Johan.

"Wow, he does look like you!" The coach said walking around him. "Come on, let's see what you can do."

Johan lagged behind and watched as the other students warmed up. As they ran laps around the field, he could see how ecstatic they were, including his brother and he wondered just how much he would enjoy playing.

"Alright Johanan, you're up! Let me see your swing." The coach called him and he grabbed his bat.

Once he was in place, he waited for the ball which was being thrown by one of Luke's friends. Squaring up, he timed the ball, swung then missed.

The pitcher almost doubled over laughing, and he watched as Luke face-palmed and sighed. Remaining still, he waited for the pitcher to regain his composure and throw another ball, which he missed but only by a slight margin.

"Alright, that's a little better," The pitcher called and the coach took notes on his clipboard.

Johan wasn't fazed because he didn't care for the game but when he thought of the effort his brother devoted to get him to try out for the team, he knew he couldn't mess up anymore.

"Okay, that was strike two, better not miss again!" The pitcher laughed but Johan remained silent.

When the third ball left his hand, Johan moved at the precise moment needed and made an impact with the ball, sending it flying. Immediately, the other students congratulated him, and he felt elation at his small victory.

When it was his turn to pitch, everyone gathered around and watched like they had before but Johan sighed, tired and ready to return to his studies, though satisfied that he was able to give baseball a try.

This time, Noel was the batter, and he nodded to him confidently before getting into position. Johan sighed, took aim, then pitched the ball at him with lightning-quick speed, which made Noel freeze up in shock.

"What?" One of the students gasped before looking over to Johan. "Did he throw the ball!?"

The catcher stood up and showed him the ball he had caught, which made the other students gasp and gawk in awe.

Johan didn't think what he did was miraculous since he had learned that one of the goals of the game was to strike the batter out. The best way to do that was to throw the ball faster than the other person could hit, which was to be expected.

"Okay, give him some space to throw again." The coach ordered, stopping the other students who were walking onto the field to take a look at the ball that was thrown.

Immediately, the students backed away, and when Johan and Noel were in position again, Johan took aim, threw the ball at gunshot speed, and then Noel swung in confusion long after the ball was caught.

"My god," The coach remarked as he took off his cap and observed Johan who was still confused by all the praise he was receiving.

"Johan," Luke said running up to him and ignoring the coach's order. "How did you do that?"

"I practiced against the wall at home." He admitted, still not understanding why his throws were being considered remarkable.

"Noel is the best batter on the team, he rarely misses a ball," Luke said, still in shock. "That was incredible!"

"Oh, I didn't know," Johan muttered as he slowly started to think that maybe baseball wasn't such a bad sport after all.