Page 1 of Embers in the Outfield

Prologue

KENNEDY

I look out the window,my little hand touching the glass, hoping to feel the last of the summer warmth. Even at such a young age, this clear September day is one filled with love in my heart.

My parents are sitting up front, singing a song from the radio that has them smiling at one another, you can feel the love in the car.

I got picked up early from school yesterday for a surprise. Mommy and Daddy took me to an appointment, and I was scared I was getting shots. I hate shots. But luckily it was a good surprise.

Turns out I’m going to be a big sister. The lady at the doctor’s office put jelly on my mommy’s belly that made mommy laugh, while Daddy let me sit on his lap. I saw my baby brother or sister on the TV screen. The baby kept hitting Mommy, but she said she couldn’t feel anything. That made me giggle too.

We had a special dinner, and we got to pick out names for the baby. I got to tell the baby goodnight through Mommy’s belly, and for some reason, my mommy started crying. I felt bad making Mommy sad, but Daddy said they were happy tears.

Maybe adults cry when they’re happy. I cried last week because Jimmy kept pulling my hair in class. I stuck my tongue out at him, and Mrs. Jenerick said that was not nice. I told my parents not to name the baby Jimmy.

“So, Kenny, are you excited for the field trip tomorrow? I know the zoo is going to be a ton of fun, sweet girl.” Daddy loves animals. He’s a vetarimarian. At least, I think that’s how you say it. My tongue gets jumbled when I say it out loud.

Before I have a chance to answer, I hear a horn approaching our car. Before I have a chance to turn my head toward the sound, there’s a huge bang on the car, and everything goes black.

I don’t know how long I sleep for, but when I wake up, I see Mommy and Daddy in the front of the car. I start screaming for them; smoke is filling the inside of the car, glass is all over the backseat, and my parents aren’t moving.

Why aren’t they hearing me? I try to yell louder, but still nothing. I look around me; I’m so scared, and my crying won’t stop now.

I see people running toward the car, phones against their ears. I see some holding their hands over their mouths like I do when I’m watching something scary on TV. Why are they scared?

Soon, I hear the sirens. They’re getting closer. I keep screaming for Mommy and Daddy to help me out of my seatbelt. I’m stuck in here, and I can’t get myself out.

I see a man outside my window, which has a huge crack in it, trying to open my door, but the car won’t open. The crack in the window changes his face, and something about the look on his face makes my heart beat faster. He looks frightened and that makes me scared too.

My screams continue as a large man moves the guy outside my window out of the way. The way the sun is shining into thecar, I can’t see his face. I look at his clothes, and he looks like the firemen in the movies I’ve seen.

My tears stop for an instant, looking over to Mommy and Daddy, telling them there is help here and that we will all be okay. They still don’t move, but maybe they are being patient. I’m not good at being patient; Daddy says that when I am going to get ice cream.

He has a big metal thing that is making that awful noise again with the metal of the car, so I cover my ears, the sound making my heart beat faster.

He pries the car door open, and that’s when he undoes the buckle for my seat belt and pulls me into his arms.

“I’ve got you,” he whispers into my ear. I feel my fingers grab his uniform.

I miss what he says, so I look at him with a puzzled look. He repeats, “What’s your name?” as he walks me away from the car. I try to look over his shoulder to see Mommy and Daddy, but I can’t see them because the other firemen are blocking the view of the front of our car.

I turn my face to look at the fireman holding me. He gives me a small smile, and I notice how calming that is in the middle of all this chaos.

He’s walking me to the ambulance. I see people waiting for me with stretchers. I take a breath and finally speak, hiccuping from all my crying.

“Ken… Kennedy,” I say just above a whisper. I’m scared, and I want my mommy. Why isn’t my mommy getting out of the car?

I point to the car, and then I remember. “Baby!”

That makes the fireman stop in his tracks. He turns around and yells, “Is there a baby in that car?” I can tell he’s concerned now. I want to tell him there’s a baby in my mommy’s belly, but the words hurt to say. The crying has made my throat raw.

I see the fireman who’s walking around the car shake his head at the man holding me.

“In her belly,” I finally say, and I see the fireman bow his head, something sad moving across his face. Why does he look so sad? They just need to get Mommy out. She’ll be okay, like me.

“Listen, I’m going to leave you with these paramedics. They will give you a blanket and check you for boo-boos. Okay?” Right when I realize he’s going to put me down, I hold on a little tighter, much like a koala, which is what my daddy calls me when I hold on to him really tight.

“It’s okay. Jackie is going to look you over, alright? I have to go help my friends.”

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