Incredible Summer - Chapters 9 and 10

CHAPTER #9

In The Golden Afternoon

    The afternoon brought picnic baskets, crowds of people, and Pastor Samuel Button. He's the umpire. That's right. He played college ball, and he still knows where the strike zone is.
    The game started promptly at two o'clock, and after the opening jitters wore off, both teams settled down and really played. No one was surprised how well the girl's team was playing. Everyone was absolutely shocked how well the boys were doing. It almost turned into a pitching duel. Missy Cook had walked a batter in the third, and an error by one of the outfielders allowed a run to score, but other than that she wasn't allowing anything. Rodney was pitching the game of his life until the exciting sixth inning when the girls scored twice - one run coming on a squeeze bunt! The crowd loved it.
    And that's how it stood, at the top of the ninth with one out. The boys were batting for the last time. They were only one run down, but this was it - they had to score now. The two announcers for WBRG were calling the play by play.

(1) "Okay, the girls are the home team, so they're on the field. There's one out already in the ninth, and only a one run differential. This game has turned out a lot closer than we thought it would."
(2) "It sure has. I'm very impressed with the boy's team this afternoon. They've kept their heads in the game. It's a good showing."
(1) "Here comes Rodney to the plate now. He's a big kid. If he gets ahold of one he could tie the game all by himself. The first pitch from Missy Cook... it's a curve, just missing on the outside. Reggie's in the ondeck circle. Missy looks in for the sign. The 1-0 pitch on the way. It's a long fly ball into the gap in right center. This could go to the wall."
(2) "Don't count Jennifer out. Look at her go."
(1) "Jennifer's... got it. A fantastic catch near the wall in deep right center by Jennifer Banks! What a little lightning bolt she is!"
(2) "We haven't had a chance to see her run yet today. Wow, I never thought she'd get to that one."
(1) "We've heard she was good, but that one you just had to see to believe. Okay, Reggie's stepping up to the plate now." (2) "This kid's intelligent. I wouldn't be surprised to see him at least make contact."
(1) "Two outs, and no one on. Missy winds up, here comes the pitch. It's on the outside corner. Strike one."
(2) "That ball had a lot of movement on it. You can see why the boys have had trouble hitting her today."
(1) "Here comes the 0-1 pitch. Reggie squares to bunt. It's a beauty right down the line. The third baseman's running in. She knows she can't get him. She's just hoping it will roll foul."
(2) "It's fair."
(1) "Yes, it is. A beautiful bunt by Reggie brings the go-ahead run to the plate."
(2) "And look who it is."
(1) "Oh my. Talk about good timing. Here he is, ladies and gentlemen. The new sensation for Benderburg baseball, Barnaby Plumber."
(2) "I can't believe it. This is more than we ever could have hoped for coming out here today."
(1) "Barnaby steps into the box. Missy checks in for the sign. Here comes the wind-up and the pitch. It's low and inside, ball one." (Crowd sounds)
(1) "The crowd is really getting into it. Missy goes into her motion. It's the 1-0 pitch. Swing and a miss. Strike one."
(2) "That was a good swing. I can see now how he hit the barn. Jennifer's backing up. She doesn't want to take any chances."
(1) "Barnaby steps back in for the 1-1 pitch. Here it comes. It's in the dirt! It's all the way to the backstop. Reggie moves over to second."
(2) "A single now will tie the game. Look, the boys team is on their feet."
(1) "This is too much. Barnaby steps back in. The 2-1 pitch coming now. It's high and inside. Barnaby had to hit the deck on that one. That brings the count to three and one.
And the coach wants a word with her pitcher."
(2) "Missy's just got to stay cool. She's been throwing strikes all day. The coach is trying to get her to settle down." (1) "Barnaby's finished brushing himself off, and it looks like Missy's ready to pitch again. She's got to come with a strike this time. Barnaby looks confident. And here comes the 3-1 pitch. It's a long fly ball down the left field line. I think it has the distance if it stays in fair territory. It's close to the pole. Foul ball!"
(2) "That was the one they needed. He only missed by about three feet."
(1) "And that brings the count to full. I can't believe it. It doesn't get any better than this."
(2) "The catcher's going out to the mound to talk it over. And look at the boy's team. They're just going crazy over here."
(1) "What a game! The catcher's coming back. I'm sure they've agreed on the pitch. Barnaby steps back in. Full count with two outs, top of the ninth. Here comes the pitch. Swing and a miss. She struck him out." (Crowd celebration) (1) "The girl's team has won by the score of two to one."

    The next few minutes were perceived differently by everyone in attendance. Some were wildly happy, and some were otherwise. The girl's team hugged one another, shook hands with the boys, and soon were headed back to town for their victory celebration. I'm sure you know how good they felt. The boys took it mostly in silence, for it was a disappointing loss, and considering they hadn't won the big game in years... well, it had just seemed so close, that's all. If you've ever been in a championship game, and lost by the slimmest possible margin, then I guess you know what the boys were feeling.
    For Barnaby, those minutes kind of went by in a blur. He stood there at the plate with that sinking feeling that takes a long time to go away. He didn't say much - I don't really think he could have. In a few moments, when things started clearing out, he went over and sat on the bleachers and kind of put his head down. He was still holding his bat, Thunder. Reggie, who spent those moments sitting on second base, came over and sat on the bleachers too, just a few feet away. Soon they were the only ones left.
    How many minutes had they shared that summer? This field, they knew every corner of it. Here they played catch, hit grounders, pitched to one another, and talked and talked. Here their friendship grew even while their skills improved. Now they shared the silence, adding this moment to their collection, but not exactly sure where to put it.
    Reggie figured if anyone was to break the silence, it would be up to him to speak first, but words didn't seem appropriate, and in the end he just walked over and put his hand momentarily on Barnaby's shoulder. Then he slowly walked down the dusty road that led home.

CHAPTER #10

In the Quiet Evening

    Barnaby too eventually made it home, but due to the unexpected delays previously mentioned, Uncle Al wasn't there to meet him. Barnaby tried to get himself a little supper, but every time he tried he found he hadn't very much desire to eat, and the breakfast dishes that had been set out to dry only served to remind him of happier times only hours before. It was a long and lonely evening, and when at last the sun dipped down in the west, he realized it was time he went to bed.
    Some would say that moments like these are best forgotten, but even for his young years, Barnaby somehow grasped the fact that his moments had to be experienced. He had made it boldly through the day, but here alone after it was all over, who could blame him if a few silent tears welled up in the darkness. All the thoughts and feelings of the last half year rolled in again across the sands of his youthful heart. For a moment he almost represented all who've been through the deep waters, and especially those who've been there while still a child.

Song 9 - Somewhere The Child

Somewhere the child lays down his head
Wondering why no one's there to tuck him into bed
Just another day, now another night
A little hand that's reaching out, turning off the light

Somewhere the child sobs all alone
Till the sounds all die away and the tears dry on their own Just another boy, just another girl
Just another child half-forgotten by the world

And I may not know your name
I may not understand your worries
I may not know the things, the things you need
    to make you smile
But if you're the child who's lost and hurting
    somewhere in the cold
Here's my hand across the music miles
If you're the one whose tears are drying
    somewhere in the dark
Here's a place to hold you
Here's a place to hold you in my heart

Funny how it goes   Year follows year
And somehow we leave behind the child
    that once we were
Till the tough days come   Till the nights are long
And then we're just a child again, trying to be strong

Somewhere the child fights through the pain
While they're feeling so alone, unaccustomed to the strain Somewhere the boy, somewhere the girl
Somewhere the little one lost and lonely in the world

And I may not know your name
I may not understand your worries
I may not know the things, the things you need
    to make you smile
But if you're the child who's lost and hurting
    somewhere in the cold
Here's my hand across the music miles
If you're the one whose tears are drying
    somewhere in the dark
Here's a place to hold you
Here's a place to hold you in my heart

Here's a place to hold you
Here's a place to hold you in my heart

    Finally, hours and hours after he had hoped to be back, Uncle Al arrived home. He was tired, maybe even exhausted. His thoughts had been with Barnaby all afternoon, but what he wanted most was to be there in person. He heard Barnaby stirring, so he walked into the room.
    "Barnaby, you still awake?" he asked.
    Barnaby didn't move. A soft "yes" was the only answer.
    Uncle Al moved closer and sat down at the end of the bed. "I'm sorry I wasn't here. I had a terrible day and I couldn't get back."
    "That makes two of us," said a small voice.
    Uncle Al looked over. "Can you tell me about it?" he asked.
    Barnaby sat up. "It was the moment of my dreams. We were down by one run. There were already two outs. I almost hit a home run that would have put us on top."
    "You did? I knew you had it in you."
    "The only thing is... it curved foul. And the next pitch... I struck out. That was it. The game... the season... the summer."
    Uncle Al was silent, not for lack of feeling, but for lack of words.
    Barnaby understood. Then, since there was another side to the story, he asked, "Did you sell the Womp-Em Machine?"
    Uncle Al shook his head. "No," he said. "The man wanted to try it out - just not on himself. So he volunteered his secretary. But when the machine came around, she got scared and stepped out of the way."
    "What happened?"
    "The machine hit her typewriter instead. It was the most beautiful line drive I've ever seen. It went right through the picture window. I spent the rest of the day replacing it."
    "Then," Barnaby said slowly, "I guess... we both missed."
    "Yes," Uncle Al said. "We both missed."
    There was silence again before Barnaby said, "Uncle Al, do you believe in God?"
    Uncle Al was a little surprised. "Sure, but why do you ask?"
    "I was wondering," Barnaby said, "why would God let me strike out at the biggest moment of my life?"
    Uncle Al looked over at him. "Was it the biggest moment of your life?" he asked gently.
    "It almost was," Barnaby answered.
    Uncle Al looked down at the floor. "I don't know," he said at last, "but I know who to talk to if you want a better answer than that. Early some morning, go to the field behind the church, and way back in the corner there's a stand of trees by the river. That's where Pastor Sam spends every summer morning with his Bible and his books. Maybe he can tell you more."
    "I think I will," Barnaby said. "I think I will."
    "Good night for now then," said Uncle Al.
    "Good night," said Barnaby.