The Girl That Made Baseball

6

"Yeah-Yeah, get two!" Jess yelled before throwing the ball in the air and hitting it to Yeah-Yeah

Yeah-Yeah caught it and threw it to Bertram, who threw it to Tommy, and Tommy sent it to Ham.

"Nice" Ham said

Jess looked over at Smalls, who looked amazed

Jess laughed and swung her bat for practice

"Good job!" Ham said, clapping his hands as he threw the ball back to Jess

"Smalls, throw it to second!" Jess yelled to the boy

"Okay!" Smalls yelled back

Jess threw the ball up and cracked the bat, hitting it toward Smalls

Smalls walked backwards and fell, the ball going past him.

"Ah, I told you, Jess. I told you" Ham said from behind her

Smalls grabbed the ball, running over to it

"C'mon, Jess, why'd you do that?" Denunez asked

Jess looked over at Benny, who re-adjusted his hat and smiled at the girl

"A square, Jess, the kids a square!" Squints yelled

Smalls ran from the fence and looked from Jess to the ball in his hand. He got ready to throw it, and stopped.

He 𝘳𝘢𝘯 over to Denunez. 𝘙𝘢𝘯.

"The hell is he doin?" Ham asked

Smalls ran over to Denunez and set the ball in his glove

"I don't believe this" Ham said

Smalls ran back to his position. Denunez looked at the ball in his glove and then turned around and looked at Jess, flabbergasted.

Jess looked back at Benny, who nodded toward the kid, and then started running to him.

"You can throw it, you know" Jess said

"No, I can't. I don't know how" Smalls said

Jess looked over at the guys, who were all silent for once

"Thanks for takin me here, but, I think I better go" Smalls said, starting to walk

"You think to much. Bet you get straight A's and shit, huh?" Jess asked

"No, I got a B once. Well, it was an A-, but it should have been a B." Smalls said

"Man, this is baseball" Jess shook her head "You gotta stop thinking. Just... have fun. I mean, it you were having fun, you woulda caught that ball" Jess said

Smalls looked at his shoes

"You ever have a paper route?" Jess asked

"I helped a guy once" Smalls said

"Chuck the ball like you would a paper. When your arm gets here" Jess pretended to throw a ball, stopping it when it was above her head "Just let go" She said

Jess started for home base

"How do I catch it?" Smalls asked

"Just stand there, and stick your glove, out in the air" Jess said, pointing to the sky "I'll take care of it" She said, starting to run to home base

"Bout time, Jessie J, my clothes are goin out of style" Squints said

"They already are, Squints" Yeah-Yeah said

"Shut up!" Squints yelled

Jess ran over to home base, when she got there, Ham threw her the ball.

"Smalls, throw it to second!" Jess said, spitting on the ball.

Smalls stuck his glove in the air, and Jess threw it up, hitting it just right, and it landed in Smalls' glove.

"Yeah!" Benny said

Squints cleaned his glasses, as if he just pictured Smalls catching it

"Alright!" Jess said, throwing one hand in the air and jumping

"He's alright" Squints shrugged

"Told ya so, man" Jess said to Ham

Smalls threw it to Bertram, who caught it

"Okay, lets play some ball!" Bertram yelled before throwing the ball to Denunez

"I knew it, all this time" Denunez said quietly, nodding to Jess before throwing it to Ham

Smalls stuck his thumb in the air to Jess.

"Yeah!" Jess said, giving a thumbs up back

Ham set the ball in Jess' hand, and there was a noise behind the fence, distracting Smalls.

Jess threw the ball to Denunez, and the game was on.

The day was short, everyone going home around 6.

"I'll show you some more tomorrow, Okay" Ham said to Smalls before walking to his house, leaving Smalls, Benny and Jess

"Okay" Smalls said happily

"You did good!" Ham said

"Bye!" Smalls waved

"Remember that hat, man?" Jess whispered to Benny

"Yeah, why?"

"I need it" Jess said, holding out her hand

Benny reached in his pocket and set it in the girls hand, Jess now walking by Scotty and he peeled off to his house, and Benny being stopped in he middle of the road to watch.

"Jess, your glove" Smalls said

"Keep it, man" Jess waved it off

"Thanks!" Smalls said

"Smalls, bring a tee shirt and jeans tomorrow, okay? After school game, y'know?" Jess said

"Yeah" Smalls said, looking down at his clothes

"And uh, you got a fireplace?" Jess asked

"yeah, why?" Smalls asked

"Throw that hat in there, man" Jess said, flicking it

"Oh yeah, well it's the only one I had" Smalls shrugged

"Not anymore. It's my brothers old hat" Jess said, holding it out for the boy, "Keep it" Jess said before walking away

"Hey, who is your brother by the way?" Smalls asked

"Alex Logan. Probably wouldn't know him. But uh, do some research..." Jess ran up to Smalls "about the Babe." Jess whispered "You might even find a bit about my dad, Paul Logan. Retired player I guess" Jess said before running to catch Benny

"Cool thing you did there, loser" Benny bumped the girls shoulder

"You woulda done the same thing" Jess laughed

"Maybe. Want some grub?" Benny asked

"Nah, I better go home tonight. I'll see you at school tomorrow?" Jess asked

"You're my ride, remember, Last week of school!" Benny yelled

"Oh yeah! See ya, Benny!" Jess said, walking down the street

"Bye, Jess!" Benny said before walking in his house.

Jess walked in her house to the smell of dinner being served.

When she walked in the kitchen, everyone was there, her dad, mom, brother and little sister, her older sisters and her spot empty.

"Uh, I'm going to turn in for the night." Jess said

"Jess, why don't you talk to us, please? I feel like I never see you"
Paul laughed

"Uh, dad, I- I'm really tired. I'm just going to go to bed" Jess said

"Okay. Goodnight, brush your teeth" Lisa said

"Night" Jess said while walking up the stairs. Something didn't feel right.