Page 55 of The Curve
“See that. Youcanpitch. I’d be on base with that one.”
There’s a little smile on her face. Another ball is taken from the bag. She stares me down this time, just like a big leaguer. But her pitch is wide, and it goes sailing out of reach.
“What the hell was that?” I laugh.
Now she’s relaxing. She gets another ball and digs her feet into ground. “Everybody deserves a bad pitch. Watch this one.”
She steps into the underhand throw and lets it fly. It’s right in the sweet spot. I swing and connect hard with the pitch. The ball goes flying, up, up, far into right field. It’s close enough to a home run for me to start for the bases, raising my arms in a victorious run. All the while she’s laughing and cheering the fact that she pitched me a good ball.
“I did it! Oh my God! Wait till I tell Mom!”
I run the bases slowly, acting like a fool all the way. Going backwards, skipping and dancing, whatever it takes to lighten the moment. When I get to home plate, I pretend to be tired and lean on my knees. Then I call her over.
“Let’s take a break. I’m not used to this. Wanna sit in the dugout?”
Her eyes light up and she nods. “Okay.”
We walk to the dugout and make our way inside. It looks like nothing special to me, but I can see her impression. She’s wowed.
“Pretty cool, huh?”
I sit on the bench and she picks a spot a few spaces away. I look at her until she can’t ignore my stare.
“I want to plead my case for you staying in Memphis.”
Right away her eyes darken, and the wall goes up. “I knew it.”
“Okay. You’ve got to cut me some slack. I’m new at this whole thing.”
“What whole thing?”
Suddenly I’m not sure how much to tell her. I think it should be the truth, but how much?
“The whole I’m in love with a woman who has a child thing. A child I could love too. I don’t know how to say it. It sounds corny, but it’s true.”
She stays silent.
“I know you’re unhappy here.”
“I am.”
“I think I know how things can change without you leaving town.”
“You’re saying that because of my mother. You want her to stay.”
“You’re half right. I do want her to stay. I want to have the time it takes to find out if we could be a real family. That’s not something that happens in a matter of weeks. It’s something that requires time spent together. Not just her and I, but the three of us.”
More silence.
“I’ve never been with someone who has a child. I’ve never had to come second in any woman’s life. But that’s how it would be with your mom. You come first. I like that about her, though. It’s how good parents operate. How they love.”
Now a faint smile. “You said half right.”
“Yeah. This half I do know from experience. I want you to stay and face your fears. It’s the only way you’re gonna get rid of them.”
“What am I gonna do, beat up every person who makes fun of me?”
“No. But changing schools isn’t the answer either. I wish it wasn’t true but that would only bring new bullies in the picture. Until you stand up for yourself it’s gonna continue. You need to change your reaction.”
