𝐒𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 / 𝐙𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥

Chapter One

Children's cries filled the streets on Monday Evening. The streets were packed with children, all shouting and raving over each other. There were bats and balls laid out everywhere, and many deserted glass bottles of all sorts of soda. The neighbours marooned their vindicated houses and sat outside in the crisp Summer air to observe the game. Baseball. The children round here took baseball decidedly serious. The streets would be cleared every day around this time for the periodic baseball game. There was an excitement in the air and in the red-brick apartments that made up most of the street. People hung out their windows to witness the game and others stood by and watched.

The final round. This one was big. A small girl stood up to the bat. She was wearing a baby pink dress with a floral embroidered pattern. She chewed vehemently on her gum and pulled the cap down on her jet black hair.

"Well fans, it's the bottom of the ninth and the bases are loaded. And guess who the orphans have at bat?"

A small boy sat on the stone wall, holding a glass bottle up to his mouth as he falsified speaking to viewers.

"That's right. The home-run queen herself. The belter from the shelter. Miss Cassie-"

"Cassie Lemmon!"

The small boy was cut off by a shout from one of the windows, coming from the red brick apartments that towered over them. The little girl at bat turned around with an annoyed expression, seeing the head of the orphanage, Niall, looking out the window at her.

"What?!" She called, blowing a bubble on her gum.

"I'm going to kill you! Didn't I tell you not to play ball in that dress?" He exclaimed.

"Awh, come on Niall! I ain't gonna hurt it!" She complained, raising her bat to show him she was going to play anyway.

"It's time for your interview! Now drop the bat, let's go!"

"Just let me smash this ball down town, okay?"

"Alright you got 10 seconds. Or else the game is going to be called on account of bloodshed."

Niall dipped back in again and Cassie turned back to her position, swinging her bat at the ready.

"Come on Frankie, I gotta go to Staten Island." She urged.

"Staten Island? What about Camp? You'll miss the bus!"

"I won't either! It's just a look-see." She sighed.

"They're not trying to put you with the Butkis', are they?"

The raven haired girl looked down for a moment, and then back up to her friend. "So what if they are?"

"You ever met those people?! Their family collects kids! They'll take anybody!"

Frankie laughed. "Yeah, even rejects like you."

"Shut up Frankie! At least I got an interview."

This seemed to silence them.

"...And Cassie Butkis steps to the plate." Yet another kid teased.

"Come on Cassie! Hit that ball already!" An elder man shouted from his spot on his patio.

She stuck on a determined face, concentrating greatly on the ball that was thrown her way. She scrunched her nose up and squinted, before swinging the bat and hitting the ball right on, sending it gliding overhead and into the wall, rolling down an alley. The street erupted into cheers and Cassie began running.