Page 87 of Safe at Home

“Hazel! Watch that mouth!”

“Sorry, Daddy,” I said, but I knew he really didn’t care. He only wanted me to watch my mouth because Lucy and Charley were in the room.

“I wish I could be there,” Dad said as he rubbed a hand through his hair.

“I wish you could, too. Where are you now? San Diego?”

“Close, we’re in San Francisco.”

“You’re playing the Sea Lions? Why did I not know that? Does that mean…”

“Hey, munchkin!” A familiar face joined Dad’s face on the screen. “I’ll be watching your game with your old man here. Our game against each other doesn’t start until after your game ends.”

“Uncle Landon!” I shrieked, and suddenly, Liv, Charley, and Lucy were all crowding around me and wanting to say hi to Uncle Landon and Dad.

Uncle Landon had been traded to the San Francisco Sea Lions last year and had just played in the All-Star Game. Dad had also represented his team, the St. Louis Vikings. Actually, the last time we had seen Dad was when we all went to the All-Star Game to see them play together on the same team for the first time. The media loved it, and we got a lot of attention. Before Uncle Landon had been on the Sea Lions, he was with the Jaguars and was always in the opposite league as Dad.

Uncle Hunter and Uncle Cooper hadn’t been picked to play in the All-Star Game, but they were there with us to watch as spectators. We all said it was an outrage that they weren't selected, but they both said it was okay. They were able to watch in the stands with their wives and kids, who were like cousins to us.

Uncle Ivan, Dad’s other best friend, was no longer playing baseball but was now coaching for the Kansas City Panthers. His team had made it to the World Series last year, but they lost to our favorite team, the Coyotes!

Olivia had been so excited that Cruz was going to be at the All-Star Game because that meant her best friend, Valentina, would also be there. Olivia was my built-in best friend, but separately, she had Val, and I had Malcolm. Liv and Val talked on the phone almost every day. I loved my twin, but when she and Val got together, all they talked about were gymnastics, animals, and boys. They even discussed the boys on my team, and to me, that was just wrong. There was no way that Max, Jett, Griffin, and Malcolm were cute. They were just my friends, smelly boys who were good at baseball, and that was all that mattered to me.

“Hazel, just enjoy this experience. I am so proud of you and your team!” Dad said after greeting his other daughters. “I’m really heartbroken that I have to miss this.”

“I know, Daddy,” I said before repeating something Mom had ingrained in us when we were very little. “We all have to sacrifice something for you to play in the majors. But I do wish you were here, too.”

“My girl, mature beyond her years. I love you, Hazel. Play your best and have fun. And don’t let any boys give you a hard time about being a girl playing baseball.”

“I won’t let them bother me, Dad. But it will be even better if we win.”

Dad and Uncle Landon both laughed. “There’s my girl!”

After hanging up with Dad, I saw Mom, with Michael on her hip, in the family room. I ran over to give her a hug and tickled Mikey’s side. Two years ago, we all thought for sure Mom was going to have her fifth baby girl. Just like with all their other babies, they never found out if we would be getting a sister or a brother. Everyone was shocked when it was finally a boy! My big, tough grandpa had cried when they told him his grandson was going to be named after him. Michael Thomas Stone completed our family. Mom said no more babies.

“Come see your very own cheering section, Hazel,” Mom said as she took my hand. We walked outside and towards the stadium. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Gigi and Gramps were here along with Uncle Dominic, Uncle Carter, and their families. I ran over to them to hug them all. Aunt Meadow, Aunt Penelope, and Aunt Emma were waving from the side and waited for their turn to get hugs. I was sad because my favorite of my honorary cousins, Camden, wasn't here. He was starting college soon and already in the dorms. I was proud of him for getting a full ride baseball scholarship! He was a pitcher and taught me everything I knew. Dad’s old coach, Mack, was here, too. His son, Nico, and Cam's sister, Peyton, were talking in sign language with Liv and Val. All my cousins and honorary cousins (all my parents’ friends' kids) were there, too. They were running around and wanting to go down the muddy hill on cardboard boxes. I couldn’t believe all these people had come for my game!

“Hey, Hazel! Warm-ups are in ten. We gotta go!” My best friend and teammate, Malcolm Hawke, said. He said hello to my mom and waved at my big, crazy family."I'm really bummed your dad isn't here."

"I know, but I did get to talk to him on the phone." Malcolm idolized my dad, especially since they were both catchers.

"Good luck!" Nico signed to me in sign language. I placed my fingertips on my chin and arched my hand out towards him to say "thank you" in sign language.

“You are so lucky you get to play baseball with a cute guy like Malcolm!” my twin said as she hugged me and told me good luck.

“Hi, Liv,” Malcolm said. He gave her a big smile and then turned to me as we walked away. “Your sister looks nice. Why don’t you ever try to look cute like her?”

I just rolled my eyes. Olivia was wearing one of my jerseys, but she had it knotted at the side and was wearing a jean skirt with it. “We do look alike! We’re twins, you know?!” I said and punched him in the arm.

“We all know you’re not identical,” Malcolm told me. “You always say you’re an inch taller and a few minutes older.”

“Well, look, I have a braid in my hair. That shows I'm trying to look nice, right?” I said as I took off my hat and showed him my hair. “Liv has one, too.”

“Let me guess,” Malcolm said as he looked back over his shoulder and looked at my sister, who was heading up the hill to watch some of the others go down the muddy hill. “Olivia braided your hair.”

“So?” I said. “Olivia can’t throw a knuckleball, now, can she?”

Malcolm shrugged. “You’ve got me there.”

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