Page 39 of Home Safe

What if I want the butterflies?

The mental back and forth continues for several rounds until I finally surrender. Propping up on one elbow, I grab my phone from the nightstand. The distrusting antagonist in my brain keeps snagging on the end of my conversation with Griffin in the car. When he tightened up so much in response to my question about his injury.

I know he promised he’d tell me more about it sometime. But curiosity is killing the proverbial cat. The cat can’t stand the mystery any longer.

A quick Google search of “Griffin West injury” provides thousands of hits. There must be hundreds of videos providing commentary on the injury itself, the rehab process, and the likelihood of his return to baseball. One of the research techniques I teach the fifth graders is the importance of using original source documents as often as possible. So, I decide to watch the original footage of the injury in real time. I’ll wait to hear further commentary directly from the source himself.

The video opens with rapid clips of two strikes being thrown to the opposing team’s batter. The announcer sets the stage for the importance of another strike to end the game with the final out before any runners from the loaded bases can score. The pitcher throws, and the loudcrackof the ball against the bat dissolves hope of a strike. I lean in to listen to the announcer’s intense voice.

“It’s a popup to short left field, and West is racing to catch it. Left fielder Ethan Farmer calling for the ball as he sprints in. Seems to be a lack of communication as West isn’t ceding ground to Farmer, and both players are closing in on the ball. West dives back for the catch, but Farmer’s still running full tilt with his eye on the ball and—ohhh,that didn’t look good, folks. West’s left arm was fully outstretched in his reach for the ball when he collided with Farmer running full steam ahead.”

There’s a pause in the announcing as the camera zooms in on the left fielder picking up the dropped ball as Griffin rolls around, banging his right fist on the ground. Two runners make it home before the ball gets to the catcher.

“This is not what we wanted to see to end this game,” the announcer’s voice picks up again. There’s a gravity to his tone that’s a stark contrast to the excitement leading up to the collision. “Griffin West looks to be in absolute agony as the training staff makes their way out to him. The Crowns will lose the game with the two runs scored, adding insult to West’s injury.” Another drawn-out pause as the camera stays glued to Griffin’s position. One of the training staff moves enough to briefly reveal Griffin’s face, etched in unspeakable pain. “It’s possible that he could be out for a while, based solely on the amount of pain he looks to be in. It would be a huge blow to the team and their chance at a World Series run if West misses the rest of the season,” the announcer says, voice somehowmoresolemn. “We’ll keep our eye out for news from the Crowns training staff but . . . this is looking pretty severe.”

I just spent the evening with a smiling Griffin. I know that he healed, he rehabbed, he’s starting the season back with the Crowns. Considering the way my heart is pounding, I understand why Griffin is averse to talking about that moment. I only watched the video, and adrenaline is sending shivers through my veins. What must it be like to relive that moment? I managed to pick off every last bit of clear polish from my fingernails, and I know how the story ended.

Clicking my phone off, I lean back against the headboard.No wonder he didn’t want to talk about it.Everything in me wants to call Griffin to come back over here so I can apologize for even bringing that up tonight. And maybe hug him.

Yes, definitely hug him.

Chapter eighteen

Danae

KARA

Look, I knew you would be overloaded last night and unable to fill me in on the date. But your time is up. I need information. CALL ME!

ME

I can’t call. Little listening ears. But I can text you.

KARA

Get those thumbs tapping, ma’am.

ME

I’ll explain more in person over lunch tomorrow, but we had a really nice evening. I was super nervous at first, especially when he took me to Capital Grille.

KARA

Oh no.

ME

That was my first thoughttoo.

But he knew everyone there. Not the guests, but all of the employees. The restaurant is like his personal friends' club hangout, and none of the guests bothered us. So I understood why we were there. Also, I didn’t see my parents or any of their social circle there, so that helped.

KARA

Thank goodness. But tell me more about the dialogue with the main man. Not just the setting.

ME

For being famous, he was shockingly easy to talk to. I felt like I was on a date with a totally normal guy. Well, that’s not true. He was way more conversational and attentive than normal guys. Kara, I told him about my parents.

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