THE AMERICAN DREAM

1.05 ▫︎ JULY, 1927 ↦ BUCKY

"Let's go to the river!" Rebecca begged her brother as he threw up another ball and swung his bat so hard that when it hit, it sent the ball flying over into the backyard fence.

"If I don't make the team..." he trailed off, unable to find an answer. "I just have to make the team."

"Bucky...." Rebecca groaned, wrapping her arms around his arm. "Everyone is there! And it's so hot. All the boys that will try out will be there too. It's too hot to practice baseball!"

"I'm not going to make the team if I don't practice!" the ten year old argued, shaking her off and throwing another ball up.

Rebecca frowned and placed her hands on her hips. "You know just as well as everyone else that you are going to make the baseball team. You are the best!"

"Not better than Jimmy," remarked Bucky with no trace or hint of jealousy in his tone at all.

"So?" asked Rebecca. "There are nine spots on a team."

"But I can be the best," he told her simply. "And that's what I want to do."

Rebecca huffed and stood there defeated for a moment... that is— until she came up with a brilliant plan. She grinned as she knelt down and snatched his bag of baseballs and took off into the house, squealing and giggling.

Bucky stood there a few seconds, his jaw agape until his mouth formed an angry line as he threw down his bat and chased after her. "Becky!" he screamed, running into the house.

"Rebecca! Bring those back!"

He bolted through the hall and into the kitchen, screaming his sister's name.

"Woah there, mister!" His mother said, stopping him with her hand on his chest. "What do you think you're doing running in this house and screaming like a banshee?"

"Rebecca took my ball bag and ran inside with it. I was practicing my swing."

"Oh yeah?" asked his mother. "I do think it's time for a break, dear. You've been at it all morning."

"Ma..." Bucky whined. His mother frowned.

"Don't whine, son. Take Rebecca and Lester down to the river. I heard that all the kids are down there getting away from the heat."

Bucky huffed, looking out the window at the hot sun. "Ma, don't you think Les is too little? He can't even swim yet."

She smiled. "Well why don't you teach him?"

He sighed again, hoping his mother would catch his dismay at having to go to the river. He gave her a look of "I don't want to", but she responded by saying, "Have fun. I'll have a pie ready when you get back. At least by evening."

"Yes, ma," he said with a hint of disapproval in his voice as he went to go find his little brother and sister.

He found Lester playing trains with their baby brother, William. William was 3 and named after their father who died the year he was born.

"You wanna go to the river with Rebecca and I? I'll teach you to swim," he told Lester. His face lit up like a Christmas tree.

"Yes," he agreed as he bounded towards his big brother. Bucky had to admit, even though he didn't really want to go, it was great to see his brother so happy.

"I want to go!" Will be announced. He held his hands out for Bucky to pick him up. "I go, Bucky! I'm going!"

Bucky picked Will up and smiled. "Sorry, Willie. You can't go. You're too little."

"I want to go!" he repeated.

"I'm sorry! You're just too little," he told him. That's when the tears came.