The Girl That Made Baseball

12

Jess had successfully snuck out, and was proud to say that she knew how to never get caught. That night, she slept very well after what Benny had told her.

"We'll never be able to replace you, you know that right?" Rang through Jess' ears

The next morning was the day before the 4th. Jess and Benny's favorite holiday was the 4th of July, just for the night game.

Tap, tap, tap.

Jess opened the curtains to see Benny.

Jess smiled and opened the window

"We're meeting at Vincent's to get a new ball, hurry, get ready, I'll wait" Benny said, crawling in the window.

Benny sat at the girls desk, looking at the few framed pictures on it.

There were 4. One of the entire team and the sandlot, except for Smalls, one of Jess on Benny's back, holding a baseball while Benny held a bat, one of the 4 siblings when Hannah was alive, right before she got sick, it was outside the school on the last day. The 4th picture was of Jess sitting with Hannah in her hospital bed, a few months after she got diagnosed, Jess pointing to a book in her lap, with Hannah laughing.

Benny remembered Hannah to be an outgoing, beautiful girl. She had always treated Benny as if he was her little brother, taking Benny, Jess and Reagan to the pool or to go get ice cream whenever they asked. Benny remembered realizing Hannah was dying, and he struggled with it, just as much as Jess.

Hannah has only died 8 months ago, but it felt like an eternity. Jess was sad for maybe a week, didn't cry or anything, than moved on, and that was that.

Benny had looked over at Jess, realizing just how much she looked like Hannah.

"Let's go." Jess said, grabbing her hat and ball.

"Aren't we gonna-" Benny started to go out the window

"No" Jess grabbed Benny's hand and walked straight down stairs with him.

"H-Hold on-" Lisa started

Jess walked straight out the door and slammed it shut

"You're going to get in trouble for that, won't you-" Benny started

"Who cares? Let's go to Vincent's!" Jess said, starting to run toward the drug store with Benny close behind.

The two made it to the drug store, the entire team waiting out back with a new ball.

"What took you two so long?" Squints asked

"Yeah yeah, we've been waiting forever!" Yeah-Yeah said

"Woke up late. Let's go to the sandlot!" Jess said, excited

The 10 made their way to the sandlot, everyone making pointless conversation.

"What are we gonna do after high school?" Benny asked

Benny, Jess, Bertram, Denunez, and Ham were all 14. Timmy was 13, Tommy, Squints, Yeah-Yeah, and Smalls being 12.

"I don't know, Benny man" Denunez said

"Yeah yeah we do. Benny's gonna go to the big leagues and we're gonna be stuck hosting barbecues or whatever" Yeah-Yeah said

Everyone laughed and made it to the sandlot.

That game was long, lasting well into night.

"Night game tomorrow, everyone!" Jess yelled excitedly as her, Benny and Smalls walked home

"Baseball really is your life, isn't it?" Smalls looked up at Jess and Benny

"Yeah" Benny and Jess looked at eachother

"What got you guys into baseball anyway?" Smalls asked

"Uh..." Jess started

"Her" Benny stuck out a thumb to the girl

"Really?" Smalls asked, looking amazed

"Yup, I'm just a hero all over town" Jess put her hands in the air and smiled

"Whatever" Smalls laughed and ran home

"Night Jess, night Benny!" He said before going in his house.

"Who did get you into baseball?" Benny asked, smirking

"Well, I would say my dad, retired player and all, but I think it was Alex actually. I mean, he did teach us" Jess shrugged, smiling at the boy.

"So uh... I guess I better get home" Benny said

"Yeah... Guess you better" Jess said

Suddenly, Jess leaned in for a hug.

Jess and Benny rarely hugged each other, the last time being at Hannah's funeral. Benny hugged her girl and smiled, then turned around and started home.

Jess smiled a goofy smiled and entered her own home, where her mother, father, and siblings were all on the couch.

"Where the hell have you been?" Paul asked

"Where do you think?" Jess rolled her eyes as she took off her shoes and started up the stairs

"Don't you just leave young lady! Do you know how worried we were?" Paul yelled

"Oh bullshit. You knew exactly where I was and when I was coming back!" Jess yelled at the man

"Get back down here!" Paul yelled as Jess started for her room

"Why don't you just fuck off!" Jess screamed real loud before slamming her door.

That night, Jess realized who she was becoming. She was becoming a broken teenager, and all because her father said he wasn't proud of her. Why did Jess care what Paul thought? Maybe because he was supposed to be the wisest baseball player she knew. Maybe it was because he was her father. That, she'd never know.