Page 79 of On Fire Island

Big Les and Winnie made a surprise appearance when word got out that Little Les was playing. They pulled up in a golf cart turned mobile hot dog stand in honor of their son being back on the field. Everyone helped themselves to dogs and cold beer.

As the group broke up, Shep noticed a young boy, around eight, standing on the left field foul line, next to the game ball. He called out to him.

“Hey, kid, throw me that ball!”

The young boy whipped it at Shep, who caught it hard in his glove.

“Come here, kid,” Shep beckoned.

He inspected the kid’s mitt, matching the boy’s hand against it.

“This is too small for you. Get your dad to buy you a bigger glove over the winter.”

“My dad’s not into baseball. He wants me to play tennis.”

“Tennis is for pussies, kid.”

The kid’s eyes widened. Shep smirked and pointed to his own house.

“See that house over there? That’s my house. Bring your new mitt to me first weekend you’re out next summer—I’ll oil it up for you and teach you a few things.” He tapped the smiling kid’s baseball cap and walked off toward Ben and Matty, who were chatting on the corner.

“So?” Ben asked Matty.

“Let’s just say all was not lost today,” Matty joked.

It was clear that there was more to the story, but Ben thought it best not to pry.

Instead, he preached, “We always said you shouldn’t swing at the first pitch anyway.”

Matty smiled, and Ben rustled his hair.

Shep reached them and tossed Ben the game ball. “This is for you, son.”

“Really, why me?”

“ ’Cause you deserve it!”

Ben smiled like a kid.

“Was the woman you were talking to the one from the other night?” Shep asked.

“Yeah.”

“Pretty lady. Maybe you’ll see her again.”

“She comes back every year. I told her she can find me in the same place next summer.”

“I sure as hell hope not!” He put his arm around Ben’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze. Ben smiled at the love and his spot-on humor.

“You guys heading for the beach?” Ben asked.

“Nah, I’m gonna go home, the drummer—Gabe—offered to show me a few things on my bass,” Matty said.

“You play bass?” Shep asked, skeptically.

“I haven’t in a while, but I’ve been wanting to pick it up again. Girls really seem to like musicians, and I’ve been thinking...”

The old man laughed and patted Matty on the back in approval.

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