The Home Run

The Challenge.

Izzy's POV

"Pickle!" Ham yelled, he threw the ball to Bertram, who threw the ball to me, then I threw it to Yeah- Yeah. All the boys ran up to us as we kept throwing it back and forth between each other. After a minute of going back and forth, I threw the ball to Yeah- Yeah, and Benny sped past Ham and me.
"Oh, damn!" Bertram said. We all gave Benny props for getting out of the pickle.

(If possible, play:
Song: Green Onions
By Booker T. & the M.G.'s)

"Oh, no!" we heard Squints yell. We all turned and saw bikes riding toward us.
"Why do I get the feeling this is because of what I did?" I asked Benny.
"Cause Philips is a baby," Benny said.
We all threw our gloves down and Benny picked up a bat as we walked right up to Philips and his gang.
"What'd you do?" Ham asked as we kept walking.
"I punched him in the face," I said.
"This is gonna be good," Ham said.
We all stood, looking at the other team waiting for someone to say something. Philips looked me up and down, he had a bad shiner from me hitting him. I rolled my eyes as he looked at Benny.
"Yeah, it's easy when you play with a bunch of rejects, a girl, and a fat kid. Aye Rodriguez?" Philips said.
"Shut your mouth, Phillips," Benny said, pointing the bat at him. Ham and I became livid.
       "Give me that damn bat!" I said, taking it from Benny and starting to go after Philips, but Benny held me back.
"What'd you say, crap face?" Ham hissed.
"I said you shouldn't even be allowed to touch a baseball. Except for Rodriguez, you're all an insult to the game. Especially you." Philips looked right at me. I felt my face burn with anger.
       "Let me at him!" I yelled, trying to get out of Benny's hold.
"Come on! We'll take you on right here, right now! Come on!" Ham said, looking at all of us. We all shouted in agreement.
"We play on a real diamond, Porter. You ain't good enough to lick the dirt off our cleats." Philips said.
"Watch it, jerk." Ham spat.
"Shut up, idiot!" Philips spat back.
"Moron!" Ham said.
"Scab eater!" Philips raises his voice.
"Butt sniffer!" Ham said louder.
"Pus licker!" Philips yelled.
"Fart smeller!" Ham yelled back.
Bertram sniffed the air, "Ah!"
"You eat dog crap for breakfast, geek." Philips hissed.
"You mix your Wheaties with your mama's toe jam!" Ham retorted. We all yelled in agreement.
"You bob for apples in the toilet and you like it." Philips looked at his friends.
They all 'oooh'ed
"You play ball like a girl! And even then that's an insult to her because she can play better than you!" Ham yelled, "Not to mention she gave you that shiner."

(Stop song.)

Philips looked at me, I nodded in agreement, then winked at him as the guys all laughed.
"What did you say?" Philips asked, shocked.
"You heard me," Ham said.
"Ya know what?" Philips asked, looking directly at me.
"What?" I scoffed as a smile played on my lips.
"Your brother probably got himself killed on purpose," Philips said, slyly.
       My smile faded immediately. I felt my face burn red. I screamed at Philips as Benny put his arms around me again holding me tighter, "I'm gonna kill him!"
"No," Benny whispered.
"I'm gonna kill the son of a bitch right now." I felt a few tears fall down my cheeks.
"Izzy, he's not worth it," Benny whispered.
"I'll make it worth it. Believe me." I hissed.
Philips laughed a bit, "Tomorrow. Noon. At our field. Be there, buffalo-butt breath." Philips said, quietly.
"Count on it, pee-drinking crap face!" Ham yelled, confidently. We all yelled in agreement.
"Let's go!" Philips said as they all rode off.
The boys all kicked their bikes as they rode away. Benny finally let me go and I turned to look at him.
"How come you didn't let me go?" I asked.
"Because I knew you'd actually kill him," Benny said.
I hung my head and hugged Benny. I felt him put one hand on my shoulder and the other rubbed my back. Then he planted a kiss on my forehead.
After playing for a while we sat in the dugout to talk about the game tomorrow before going home. Everyone was fairly confident we'd win but wanted to ensure it.
"Okay, Izzy don't take this the wrong way, but we could use you to our advantage." Squints said.
"What are you getting at?" I asked.
"What if you just wear something different tomorrow?" Ham said.
"Like?" I asked, confused.
"Well, we all saw how Philips looked at you today. He doesn't know you and Benny are dating. Just wear shorts?" Ham suggested.
"I punched him and you think he still has a thing for me? You guys heard what he said about Danny. Besides, what if I need to slide?" I asked.
"I'll take a first aid kit," Smalls said.
"You're serious?" I asked.
"It couldn't hurt?" Bertram said.
"Yeah, it won't hurt you guys, but it's gonna hurt me," I said. I looked at all the guys they all had begging looks on their faces, "Benny?"
"It's your choice," Benny said.
"Fine. I'll do it." I said, reluctantly.

*~*

I walked into the dugout with the boys. I felt beyond exposed.
"I hate this. I have had three people whistle at me on the walk here." I rolled my eyes.
"This game is gonna go quick don't worry about it," Benny said, handing me my glove.
       "Wish me luck," I said, walking out to my place on the field with the rest of the boys.
       "Play ball!" Ham yelled once we reached our spots and he squatted behind home plate.
       "Hurry up, batter. It's gonna be a short game, and I gotta get home for lunch." Ham said. The batter swung and missed. He chuckled, "That's one."
       "You know, if I had a dog as ugly as you, I'd shave his butt and tell him to walk backward," Ham said. The batter swung and missed.
       "The heater. Here it comes. I dare you." Ham dared. The batter swung and missed, "Strike three. You're out!"
       The second batter came up to bat, "Hey, batter-batter-batter, hey, batter-batter-batter-swing-batter!" Ham started copying what I'd do, "He can't hit, and he can't hit, and he can't hit, and he can't hit, swing batter!"
       The batter swung and hit the ball. It came right to me. I caught it and threw it home to Ham. Philips team went silent in the dugout. I sighed, trying to relax.
       "Hey, is that your sister out there in left field, naked? She's naked." Ham said as Kenny pitched to Philips, he missed.
       "Shut up, Porter!" Philips said, angrily.
       "Hey, hey, hey. I'm just trying to have a little friendly conversation. Come on." Ham said, defensively, "You think she'd go out with me?"
       Philips ignored Ham and waited for the pitch. Kenny pitched again and this time Philips hit the ball and it was coming right to me.
       "Distract them," I said to myself. As the ball got closer and I knew I would catch it, I did the splits and caught the ball in my glove.

       "Holy crap." Squints said. The boys all cheered for me, while Philips team whistled.
       "Son of a... ugh," I said, getting up. We all ran to the dugout.
       "That was great!" Benny said as all the boys hugged me.
       "You said to distract them," I said and looked at the other dugout. Phillips' team was looking at me hungrily.
       "Just keep up the good work," Benny said.