Rained Out (Kris Bryant)

11

Crock-a-doodle-do!!!! I thought I heard a rooster scream sometime during the night, but I slept on. I didn't actually know how tired I really was.

"KRIS!" someone yelled, shaking me. Once I was out of my sleep-state, I realized that it was Margret. When she saw that I was awake, she said. "The police found your car once they were able to get across the bridge. Actually, my brother Matt was the one who found your car. He's here to bring you into town so you can leave to ge back to your game. You'd better get changed. I have your clothes already in the bathroom for you."

"Oh okay," I said sadly. I don't think that I was ready to go back to my life just yet. I wanted to stay here for at least couple of more days, but I guess that was selfish of me to wish that. I still wished it, though. "What time is it, and was there a rooster?"

"It's six, and yes there was a rooster. His name is Squackers," she said cheerfully. "Now, go and change. I'll have a snack packed for your long drive home." I did as I was told, and I went into the bathroom to change.

When I reemerged, I got my first glance at Matt. He had shaggy dirty blond hair. He seemed nice enough, but he did look a little awkward when Ed showed up in the room. I hugged Margret, thanking her and to tell her to say goodbye for me to her kids. Before we parted I kissed her cheek, and she gave me a brown paper bag full of snacks. I then thanked Ed with a hug before I followed Matt out of the farmhouse.

Once we got into the car, me in the backseat, Matt started the car. We backed away from the farmhouse, but I watched as the house disappeared in the darkness behind us. For the rest of the ride into town, I felt the longing of being back in that house, hanging out with Jeff, and Ed, and Josalynn. But more than anything, I wanted to be with Margret once more.

"You got the whole world worrying for you, you know. It is all over the news, but here you were, perfectly safe with my sister and dad. I got your car towed and it should be filled with gas as well. It should be ready for you to go back to Chicago. Your phone is actually up here, charging. It's about twenty percent charged. You can have it now if you'd like, or it can continue to charge. It's up to you."

I watched the landscape as he continued to talk and talk. "You can keep it up there for now. Thanks."

Ten minutes later with a very silent yet Matt's voice filled car, we arrived at the tiny police station. We waked into the building. I couldn't find my car in the parking lot, but I didn't have to worry for that long since I heard Matt say, "Jim said that he'll be here in a little bit with your car." I had no idea who Jim was, but I didn't tell Matt that. I was scared that he'd go into another long winded story about who this Jim character was.

Once we got into his office, I finally grabbed my phone that I was given once we pulled into this place. I check all of the millions of text messages. I didn't respond to any, but I checked them.

"I'm going to call the Chicago captain," Matt announced from behind his cluttered desk. "Do you want me to tell him anything?"

I looked up from my phone for a second and thought. "Can you ask him not to contact anyone, because I want to do it myself."

"Will do." I tuned out their conversation. I couldn't believe that in no time I should be back in my car and driving back to Wrigley and my real life.

Minutes passed by, slower and slower after the next. I felt like I was going mad with all of this waiting. I wanted to hit the road, so I would get away from Margret's gravitational pull. I believe that I'd still feel the effects no matter where I went, but here it was so strong.

6:25, 6:26,6:26, 6:27, 6:27, 6:27, 6:27, 6:27, 6:27, 6:28. The clock slowly clicked by. But as soon as the clock struck 6:28, some guy busted through the door with my keys in his hands. Matt was still on his phone call, but it did sound like it was ending.

I could almost imagine what was happening at Margret's place. She'd be making breakfast, while Jeff was downstairs passing his time with some baseball. Ed would be on his morning walk, enjoying the freedom that it gave him. And Josalynn, well she would be in the kitchen with her mother, 'helping' Margret. Life would still be going on, and I would be a distant memory. I'd be in the category that they would say when they was gossiping, or Jeff trying to brag to his teammates and friends. I would be nothing more.

"Um... Kris!" Matt's took my mind out of my fantasy land. "Congratulation, you're no longer a missing person.This is Jim, and he brought your car. The Chicago captain said that you will be able to tell your coach, and your teammates, and family, but he is going to let the head people know that you are alright. You'd better get going, Chicago is expecting a storm today."

I stood up, with my phone and my snack bag in hand. "Thank you so much for helping me." I was trying to be as nice as I could. I didn't want anyone to think that I'm some stuck up person.

"No problem," Matt said as Jim handed me my keys, and then the three of us walked out of the building and out to my car.

It was a little before seven when I got into my car and started my seven hour trek back to the Windy City. Soon, everyone will know that I am alive and well.