2. Banks
“I expect nothing but strikes from you tonight, Boss. Don’t let these people get in your head,” my coach, Arnold, stated as he watched me warm up.
I glanced at him over my shoulder and smirked. “Do I ever let that happen? You know me better than that, Coach.”
My lips formed an ‘O’ as I exhaled, then sent a curve ball down the mound into our catcher, Aaron’s, glove. I tapped my hat at Coach Arnold, who chuckled and walked away to go see about my other teammates.
It was opening day, so the stadium was filled with fans from all over the city.
The weather in Camden Cove was perfect for a game.
We were playing in seventy-four-degree weather with a slight breeze every so often.
The sky was clear and blue with no clouds in sight, only pure sunshine.
After months of practice, being back on the field for a game was a euphoric feeling.
It gave me a high like no other. Between the freshly manicured green grass and the freshly painted white lines decorating the dirt, I wasn’t sure which was better.
I bounced on my cleats and smirked at Aaron. “You know we gotta show out today. Everyone’s been talking shit about how the Barons might beat us, so we gotta make sure it doesn’t happen.”
“We got this. You be on your A-game and trust the field to back you up.”
“I got you.”
To keep my arm warm, I threw a few more pitches before feeling someone walking up behind me. The breeze wafted the floral scent of my mother’s perfume across my nose. I released an exhale before turning around to greet my parents. My jaw dropped when I saw all three of my siblings with them.
“Aw, shit!” I exclaimed with my fist over my mouth as I went to dap my brother Justin up before embracing my sisters, Scarlett and Paisley. It was rare the whole family was in attendance, so my body was filled with love. “Y’all got me. I only thought Paisley would be with Mom and Dad.”
“We’ve missed too many opening days, so we agreed we couldn’t miss this one,” Scarlett explained, raking her hands through her shoulder length, blonde bob.
Justin agreed. “Hell yeah. I plan to make more games this year so I can keep bragging on how good you’ve been doing. There’s nothing like seeing you in live action.”
“Well, I’m at every home game and most away games, so I don’t need to explain myself.” Paisley chimed in, snickering. We did our secret handshake, and I winked at her.
As the oldest, I always made it a point to set an example for my siblings, as if my parents didn’t pressure me enough.
I owed my success to them, but I also held some resentment for how hard they pushed me, which was why my relationship with them was rocky.
It didn’t stop them from supporting me nor me from taking care of them.
Blaise and Alyson Callahan made it a point to be at every single game, no matter where or the weather.
It had been like that since I played T-ball.
“Damn, Aly. I guess we’re not standing here, are we?” Dad asked with his hands out.
Mom tossed her salt and pepper curls over her shoulders with her thin lips tightly pursed together. “I guess not. We don’t get this kind of love, and we’ve never missed a game. Maybe we need to start missing a few to feel loved.”
“No reason to be dramatic,” I stated, falling into my mother’s five-foot-two frame and kissing her forehead. “Hey, Mom. You look good all decked out in my gear.”
Alyson Callahan went all out for her children. Everyone knew exactly who she was at my games. She would have on the team colors of gray and royal blue with my name, number, or face on it. Dad kept it simple with a replica jersey, but Mom had all types of outfits to show her support.
Mom spun around and smiled while my sisters hyped her up. Leave it to them to get her acting up.
Coach came over and got me, so I gave my family love and went to get myself together mentally.
While Coach gave us a pep talk, I had one earbud in, listening to some R&B.
While most of my teammates would blare rap music, I was more on the soulful side.
I loved me a good hype beat, but there was something about R&B that soothed my soul and got me in a different headspace.
I believed it had a lot to do with the way my mom would wake us up to slow jams on the weekends to clean up.
Game time.
I practiced some more warm-up pitches until the umpire called ball in. Since we were the home team, the Barons were the first to bat.
“Strrrike!” the ump called, and the crowd went wild.
Keep them like that, Boss. Straight down the mound into Aaron’s glove.
After each pitch, I took a deep breath. It helped me shake off whatever vibe I felt from the previous pitch, good or bad, so I could focus on the next. I’d been doing it since I pitched my first game at eight. Some habits never broke.
“Strrrike!”
Good, good. You’re the Boss, man. Keep making this shit look easy.
“Strrrike! You’re out!”
“Aye, don’t embarrass them too bad, Boss. You already got them sweating,” my friend, Forest, teased from short stop.
I chuckled and quickly focused again. The top of the inning ended with me striking out two batters while I got four hits off me. The Barons ended up with two runs, so we needed to go out and get four.
“Great pitching, Boss. I need you to go out and bring your teammates on the bases in. I have a feeling this is going to be a close game, but there’s no doubt in my mind that we’ll come out on top. Keep leading us,” Coach said, roughly patting my helmet before I went on-deck.
I was sixth in the batting lineup, right after Forest. Carefully, I watched their pitcher while practicing my swing. We had a lead runner on third and another one of my teammates stole second. If Forest could get a triple, it would bring them both in for us to score four.
The pressure was on. Forest hit a single, only bringing in our lead runner.
We had two outs, so I would be the one to change things.
I drew the number seven in the batter’s box and got in position.
Once again, I drowned out the noise around me as if it was only me, the pitcher, the catcher, and the ump.
“Ball!” the ump called, and I breathed a sigh of relief.
Strike.
Ball.
Ball.
Three balls, one strike. I could either watch the next for a ball or swing. Something told me the pitcher wouldn’t make the same mistake, so when the ball left his hand and got close enough, I pivoted my foot. With all the movement in my hips, the ball connected with my bat and went soaring.
I didn’t bother watching where it went or if it was caught.
I headed for first base. Once I was there, I noticed the outfielders running after the ball, so I took off.
I kept going until I was headed for home base.
The catcher was positioned for the ball to come his way, so I picked up my speed and slid in just as the ball hit his glove.
“Safe!”
Like Coach said, the game was close, but we came out on top, winning ten to seven. After praying with the Barons, we headed to the locker room to celebrate.
“That’s what the fuck I’m talking about, Boss!” Forest yelled, slapping my hand three times then saluting.
“Hell yeah. I knew we were about to do that shit, man. The pressure was on me, but I was throwing them.”
“Like we knew you would.”
Forest and I were drafted together. With us being the only two new Cougars our year, we bonded and got close. We both went straight into the MLB out of high school, which most people frowned upon, but after thirteen years in the game, we’d proven why we were the chosen ones.
By the time we got through post-game interviews and a meeting with the coaches, I was exhausted.
Some of my teammates invited me to go out with them, but I declined.
I’d been receiving too much attention in the blogs lately and thought it was best to lay low.
The only thing I needed was positive attention.
“You know you played one hell of a game, son. Words can’t express how proud we are of you,” Dad voiced with his arms outstretched.
We had a family group hug, something I didn’t realize I needed until then. Justin and Scarlett no longer lived in Camden Cove, so it was rare I got to see them. All six of us being together again felt good.
“Thanks, y’all. I’m tired as hell. How long will the two of you be in town?” I asked my siblings.
“We’re staying until Sunday. We’ll be at your next two games,” Justin answered, and I couldn’t hide the smile stretching across my face.
“Plus, Paisley is demanding we go with her to this art pop-up shop on Saturday. Her favorite local artist is going to be there, so you know she’s about to run our pockets.” Scarlett playfully smacked her lips and nudged Paisley with her shoulder.
Paisley giggled. “And I will have my hand out for every piece I want. I’m trying to finish my wall in my condo, and Leilani has the perfect piece to complete it. I gotta get there early because too many people want it.”
“How much is it?” I questioned.
“I’m not sure. There were so many people bidding on it. I don’t think she ever set a price. She and her cousin were discussing setting up a bid, but I haven’t seen one. I hope it’s not sold.”
“Send me the info, and I’ll look into it.”
Mom swiftly shook her head from side to side as Paisley did a little dance. “See, that’s her problem now. You have her little ass too spoiled, Banks. I told you about that.”
“We all know Pai Dai is Banks baby,” Scarlett said. “She’s all our baby.”
Justin cosigned, “Damn right.”
Paisley was a surprise to us all. Mom and Dad thought they were done after Justin was born.
At thirty-one, I was ten years older than Paisley.
For her twenty-first birthday, I bought her a condo close to my house.
Since Justin and Scarlett moved away, Paisley clung to me.
I’d go to the ends of the Earth for that girl.
I chopped it up with my folks for a little longer until my driver came. We all promised to have dinner together before Justin and Scarlett left.
On the ride home, Paisley sent me Leilani’s FameVsYou profile.
Damn.
I’d be more than happy to accompany Paisley on Saturday. Leilani was gorgeous. I found myself scrolling through her profile, watching her videos until I made it home. She was dope as hell, for real. Her art was a vibe, and I thought about copping a few pieces for my house.
The one Paisley wanted was in high demand.
Everyone in the comments wanted it. I noted the highest offer as twenty-five grand.
As I lay in bed, I sent her a message and offered her seventy-five grand for it, and for her to let me know if anyone else bid higher.
She didn’t read it, so I decided to watch highlights from the game until I went to sleep.