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“I’m sorry. This won’t happen again, I promise.”
I nod in response and get back to the roster. All thirteen kids are present. There are a few players who aren’t taking part because of other commitments.
“Alright.” I toss the folder to the ground and cross my arms. “Over the next few weeks, we’ll focus on different skills: throwing, pitching, hitting, infield and outfield defense, and base running. This first week will be pretty generic as we get to know each other and I see what exactly I’m working with. There will also be two days instead of being on the field that we will meet in the weight room.” I pause as I take this group in. No one seems like they’re ready to run for the hills, so I take that as a good sign.
“For our time together, I will put in my effort, but in order for this not to be a complete waste of our time, I need you all to give it that, too. That includes being on time.”
My eyes first find Beau’s, and he looks down, adjusting the brim of his hat, before I search the rest of the crowd. When no one says anything, I clear my throat. “This is where y’all will say yes, Cooper.”
“Yes, Cooper,” they all say in unison. I feel a bit like a drill sergeant.
After warming up, each player takes their position. I lean back against the fence and watch the players toss the ball back and forth. I focus on Beau as he squats above home plate, and I can’t help but feel the familiarity of him. Was he on one of the younger teams we had visited? I rack my brain through memories of where I might know him from.
I make it through the entire first day without losing my mind. This group is full of talent and could honestly give our winning team a run for our money. The team is packing up as I walk the diamond to collect the bases.
“Cooper,” Beau calls out as I lean down to pick up second base.
“What’s up, Beau?”
“I just wanted to apologize for being late today. I didn’t make the best first impression, and I don’t want you to think that I’m going to be taking advantage of your time here.” The poor kid looks like he’s ready to blow a gasket.
“Woah, Beau, relax. Today was only day one—we’ll call it first-day jitters.”
“I promise it won’t happen again, sir.”
“Woah, woah, woah.” I nearly drop the bases I’m holding. “No need to make me feel old as shit by calling me sir.” We both laugh. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Beau.”
He turns and jogs toward the open gate, trying to catch up to the rest of the team, but I call his name.
“Look, I know this is going to sound certifiable, but have we met before? I’ve spent this entire session feeling like we have.”
Beau adjusts the strap of his bag on his shoulder. “Umm, yeah, actually. You once signed my ball cap when I was a kid.”Holy shit.“I actually wore it every day until it almost fell apart. Now it sits in a box in the closet.”
I adjust the bases under my arm and use my free hand to grip the back of my neck as I blow out a harsh breath. “You called me your hero,” I recall.
Beau laughs. “Yeah, not one of my finer moments. My mother scolded me most of the afternoon that day for running over to you and asking you that.”
“You ever need a replacement, just let me know.”
“Marshall, you coming or what?” someone shouts.
He shouts back that he’ll be just a minute longer before turning back to me. I hold my hand up to stop whatever he was going to say.
“Go on and get out of here.” I nod toward the group. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
With that, he leaves, and I’m left on the diamond with nothing but memories of everything that happened that first day I met Beau.
I was leaning forward, resting my elbows as I mindlessly flipped through the outdated magazine in the physical therapist’s office. I tossed it on the side table beside me.
My knee anxiously bounced up and down. Could the other patients feel the motion? I refused to look up from where something interesting on the floor held my gaze. I could feel the stares from everyone in the office. It’d been the same since the night of the accident, or the next day, once word spread about what happened. I couldn’t walk anywhere in town without people stopping and whispering.
My palms began to sweat, and the room, I swore, was getting smaller the longer I sat there.
I pressed up on my knees to stand and walked over to the woman at the front desk. She looked up from her screen and raised her brows in question.
“Excuse me. My girlfriend, Riley Parker, is still back in her session.” She nodded, recalling as she checked us in only forty minutes ago. “In case she finishes up early, could you let her know I just stepped outside for some air?”
“Mmm-hmm.” She nodded.
