The Girl That Made Baseball

17

The next fews days were spent getting over the chew. They also had to replace the baseball Benny sent flying at the Tigers field.

"Let's go!" Benny yelled once they had gotten their new ball, and everyone ran to the sandlot.

Jess was up to bat. Something was going to happen today. Jess could feel it. Everything went by in slow motion.

She walked up to home base, swinging the bat a few times.

Benny was shortstop that day, just so he wasn't sitting around waiting for his turn to bat.

Jess hit the insides of both her shoes, the sound of wood against rubber echoing in her ears. Then, effortlessly, she threw the bat in the air so it spun in circles, catching its
handle and hitting it against home plate.

Denunez pitched the ball, and as soon as the ball crashed against the bat, electrics shocks were sent through Jess' arms. The ball made a cracking noise as it was sent into out field.

As everyone went to watch where the ball was going, instead of seeing the ball, they saw the cover flying through the air, and Smalls caught the guts.

Everyone ran over to the cover of the baseball, Smalls looking inside his glove.

"I don't believe it" Bertram said

"Bitchin" Ham said

"Nah it ain't." Jess said

"C'mon, Jessie, maybe 2 or 3 guys in history ever busted the guts out of a ball!" Squints said "Must be an omen!"

"All it means is that we can't play no more. I mean it's only 12:00 and I just ruined the whole day for us!" Jess said

"No you didn't. That's the most amazing thing I ever saw!" Denunez said

"Yeah" Benny agreed

"Anybody got any money?" Jess asked

Everyone shook their heads

"Then it ain't okay, cause now we can't play no more!" Jess said

"Yeah we can" Smalls said

"What? You got 98 extra cents layin around at home Smalls?" Jess asked

"No, but I got a ball" Smalls said

"Go get it!" Everyone yelled at the boy

He ran off the field and came back within 5 minutes

"I got it! I got the ball! Here Jess, I got the ball!" Smalls said

"Bitchin. Your ball, your ups" Jess said, handing Smalls her bat and running to out field.

Denunez pitched the ball, and Smalls got it to the Beasts yard.

Smalls has started to run the bases, and then ran to the fence

"Smalls, you forgot to turn! 3rd base is that way! Smalls!" Ham said as everyone followed him

"I gotta get that ball!" Smalls said

"The shock of his first homer" Jess nudged Benny

"No you don't understand, that wasn't my ball!" Smalls yelled

"Who's ball was it?" Jess raised and eyebrow

"My stepdads. We need to get it back, he's gonna kill me!" Smalls yelled

"Listen to me Smalls. This is a matter of life and death. Where did your old man get that ball?" Squints asked

"What? I don't know. Some lady gave it to him, why?" Smalls said