curveball || benny rodriguez

o n e

Wednesday, June 12th 1962

It was the summer of 62, schools finally out and now I get to spend my time playing baseball everyday.

I woke up relatively early that day, it was officially the first day of summer. I decided to go downstairs after getting ready and head out to the sandlot, I stepped out on the front porch and noticed that we are getting new neighbours next door to us.

I spotted a short nerdy boy, he was taking out boxes from the small rental truck, placing them next to him so he could grab more.

I place my glove in the back of my jeans and begin walking over to him, before I made it to him I look over and notice Benny jogging over to me.

Benjamin Franklin Rodriguez, one of my very best friends.

"You ready to go Y/N?" he asks gripping onto his bat, I look over at the new kid and see that he is already looking at us. He starts to wave and Benny just gives him a friendly nod before grabbing my hand and pulling me down the street.

I turn my head and notice the boy had a sad look on his face as we ran out of the neighbourhood.
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Thursday, June 13th 1962

I watch as DeNunez winds up and pitches the ball in Benny's direction, his bat connects with the ball, hitting hard it, sending the ball flying.

"Watch out!" Ham suddenly yells taking off his catchers helmet, we all watch as the ball hurls right towards the kid from yesterday.

He stood there frozen, looking scared shitless. He threw his arm over his face and falls to the ground while he attempting to catch the baseball but it just hit him instead

All boys start laughing except for Benny and I, he gets up putting his hat back on and then he wiped the dirt off of his pants. The guys stop laughing and just stand their watching him.

"Kay, I'll get it!" The boy replied, slowly walking over to the ball. He takes his time which annoys the boys.

"Come on! Throw it!" Squints yells throwing his hands up in annoyance.

"Hurry up! We've got a game going here!" Bertram also yells, I turn to face them slightly glaring at them.

I watch him snatch up the ball and stumble back from the fence in fright, he moves closer to us and just stands there.

"Throw the ball!" Kenny shouts at him, the boy looks down at the ball before raising his arm and throwing it...a couple of metres in front of him.

This causes most of the boys to roar with laughter, they fall to the ground, rolling in the dirt trying to catch back their breath.

Benny is the only one that isn't laughing. He just stands there and stares down the others.

I watch as the boy looked down in embarrassment mumbling something then bolting out of the sandlot, I jog over to where the ball was and threw it back to DeNunez. I shake my head as I go back to my place and we pick up where we left off, for the rest of the game all I can think of his that kid.