"It's like this baseball field is trying to kill you"
I laughed as I looked at my dad who was looking at me.
"I'm fine" I assured him as I sniffled.
He frowned a bit.
"Maybe we should head home?"
I shook my head at him.
"Sonia really wants Joc Pederson's autograph, and we're almost to the front of the line" I said.
My little sister adored Joc Pederson, so much that she had a poster of him face planting the wall on next to her bed.
"Fine, but I'm driving back"
I smiled.
"You were going to drive back regardless" I stated.
He laughed.
"I wonder if your allergies will be like this everytime you step foot at a ballpark?"
"I sure hope not" I admitted.
"Did you get like this at the start of every season?"
I shook my head.
"When was the last time you played?"
"In August" I told him.
"It hasn't been that long, but you did practically grow up in a field like this"
I nodded slowly.
"Do you miss playing?"
I smiled and looked at him.
"I don't exactly have enough time to miss playing" I admitted.
"School keeps you pretty busy"
The security signaled for us to walk to the table. I pulled out my silver Sharpie as dad placed the poster in front of Joc. He laughed as he looked at the picture.
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"Of all pictures"
I laughed and he looked at me.
"My sister is going to freak when she sees that it's signed" I told him.
He shook his head slowly as he chuckled.
"What's her name?"
"Sonia" I said.
"Mind spelling it out for me?"
"S-O-N-I-A" I told him.
He nodded and shook his head as he wrote a message on the poster. I pulled my phone out and took a picture as he autographed it.
"Here you go"
I handed him the ball and carefully picked up the poster.
"Thank you" I said.
He offered me a smile and handed me the now signed ball.
"Here you go"
"Can I get my sharpie back?" I asked.
He chuckled and nodded.
"Sorry about that"
"It's no problem, good luck on your season" I said.
He smiled and turned his attention to the people behind me.
"You have not played in the Dodger Uniform yet, so I do not have a poster you can sign. I do have a baseball you can sign though"
I looked at the name card that said "TRAYCE THOMPSON". He lightly chuckled as he took the ball from my dad.
"Are you excited for Spring Training?"
Trayce glanced up and nodded.
"Yes sir"
Dad smiled and nodded as his phone rang.
"Stella, do you mind getting the ball from him?"
I nodded and turned my attention to Trayce who had just finished signing the ball.
"Here you go"
"Thank you" I said as I placed my phone on the table.
He looked at the poster and chuckled.
"That's a great picture of Joc"
Joc glanced at us and shook his head slowly at us.
"Good luck at Spring Training" I told them both.
They nodded and I moved out of the line.
"Don't forget your phone"
I looked at Trayce and smiled.
"I was already forgetting it" I admitted.
I got my phone and put it in my pocket.
"Thank you" I told him.
He nodded and I made my way over to my dad.
"Ready to go?" I asked.
"Yes, your mom is at the condo already"
"Well let's not keep her waiting" I said.
"The fluffball has her entertained"
The fluffball as my dad called him was Bailey, my two-year-old Maltese.
"Did you see any potential boyfriends?"
"You're the worst" I told him.
He grinned.
"Why can't you be a strict and overprotective father?" I asked.
"I am, but I'm also a cool dad"
"No" I said shaking my head at him.
He laughed and I smiled at him. Growing up, my parents always made sure that my sister and I knew that school always came first. I went out on dates, but I never got to call a guy my boyfriend. They either got bored of me, or I pushed them away with how busy I got with schoolwork and Softball. Do I regret doing that? Not really.
