April Roberts

Chapter 6

The bell signaling the end of school rings. Yes! I rush to my locker and put my textbooks and binders away. Then I grab my book bag and my bag with clothes to change into for practice.

I go outside with my stuff and get on my motorcycle. I ride to the back of the school and park there. I text dad and tell him that he doesn't need to pick me up because I have the motorcycle. He responds saying he noticed it wasn't in the garage and to be careful with it.

I go to the girls locker rooms from the back and change into a white short sleeved T-shirt and green shorts. I slide on my baseball shoes and go back outside where the team is.

Coach Chester is taking roll call. I walk up to him and wait patiently until he's done. "Hunter's not here. He's sick at home." I tell him. Coach Chester nods and writes down absent by Hunter's name on the rooster. "Ok everyone come here." Coach Chester motions to everyone. We all huddle around him.

"I'm going to split you into teams, give you a minute then we're going to play. Someone will have to sit out every round since we're a player short today. April you can sit out first round." Coach Chester starts counting us off and dividing us into two teams.

I go over and sit on the bench. I always have to sit out when we do this. It's not fair. I'm the only girl on the team. Why put me on the team when you have me sit out whenever a player's absent. I'm one of the best players on the team. The boys even tell me that I'm one of the best.

I drink some water and watch them play. At least I can tell who's doing better at what so I can tell Coach Chester how we should position everyone during the real thing. Maybe that's one of the reasons he sits me out, because I see things that most people don't. Maybe it's because of my superpowers. I have good eyesight. I'll have to ask Uncle Matt about it.

Will steps up to the plate. He's not a bad hitter. He plays good. Not as good as Gavin, but Gavin's not as good as Theo. Everyone is on this team because there was something special in them that Coach Chester couldn't find in anyone else. We all have our strengths and weaknesses. We can use them to help us win games. We win a lot of games.

Will hits the ball and it flies over people's heads. Spencer jumps up and catches it. He's pretty tall. Double my height. I'm not small but I'm not tall either. In the middle I guess, if there's a middle with heights.

Spencer throws the ball to second base as Will is speeding up to make it. Edward catches the ball just before Will touches the plate. Everyone goes into confusion about if Will made it or not. Coach Chester looks over at me and I shake my head confirming that Will didn't make it. Coach Chester turns back to the boys who started to yell at each other and shouts that Will is out. Will grumpily walks off the field over to the bench too switch with me.

"Hey you did good. Almost a home run." I tell him as I get up. He just shrugs his shoulders and drinks some water before he sits down. I sigh. So much for trying to be supportive. Guys like Will don't like to get an out. They want to get a home run. They just don't always do.

I'm batter. I take the bat that John holds out to me. Breathe in, breathe out. I focus my eyes on the ball. Coach Chester pitches the ball and it comes flying towards me fast. I hit it as hard as I can and then drop the bat and run. I run all three bases and back to home before gravity claims the ball. All the boys stare at me in shock. I just smile at them as I go to the back of the line.

Today was a good practice. I didn't miss the ball!