On the next pitch, I got my footwork correct and there was a jump in velocity on the ball. The Lang player caught a piece of it and fouled it back. The next pitch was better and he missed that. One up and one down. The next batter topped the first pitch. Even though he had a massive swing, he dumped what was effectively a bunt down the first base line. We hadn’t practiced this yet, so I ended up in Tim’s way and the Lang player was safe.
Something else we hadn’t practiced was pitching out of the stretch. I guess they just expected that I had done this before. But I’d never pitched until this year. When their pitcher got up to bat, it was obvious that he was going to bunt. Tim called time.
“I know you’ve never done this, so I just want you to worry about pitching,” Tim told me.
“But the guy on first is the tying run. If he gets to scoring position, then we could have a tie game.”
“Yes, so why not just strike out the next two guys? If that happens, then he doesn’t matter.”
“You’re the boss,” I told him.
Tim had me throw it high and hard. That had two benefits. The first was that if the boy on first tried to steal second, Tim would be in the best position to throw him out. The second was that it’s much harder to bunt a high fast pitch. Sure enough, on the first pitch, the runner was off as soon as I was in motion. He would have been safe if the batter hadn’t fouled the ball off.
The second pitch was a repeat but their pitcher got more of the ball and popped it up. Tim snagged it and gunned down the guy at first to give us a double play, and we were out of the inning.
We came up in the bottom of the sixth and scored four more runs. We were now up 20–15. I had an easy final inning and we won.
Eve gave me a big kiss and was off to Nashville.
I watched the varsity. I realized that I could be playing shortstop for them. But watching how serious they were, I was glad I was playing JV ball. At least we were having fun. As the score indicated, we had some room to improve. The varsity was able to win 8–5 to get their first win.
WHEN I GOT HOME, CASSIDY called me.
“What’s this I hear about Eve going to Nashville?” she asked me.
“She left after the game.”
“So, who’re you going out with tonight?”
I had to chuckle. Cassidy and Jim could only go out on a date if it was a double date. For some reason, they thought I was the only one they could go out with. I think Jim liked that I picked up the tab for most of the meals.
“I really haven’t thought about it.”
“Do you want me to find you someone?”
I remembered the last one she found me. April didn’t turn out so well.
“No, why can’t we just stay in?” I asked her.
“No way, Buster. Jim and I haven’t had any alone time in two weeks. If you remember, you went and played in Miami last weekend. You’re not bailing tonight.”
“All right. Let me call Lisa and see if she’s free.”
“That was your last chance. You just be ready at six o’clock. Jim will pick you up then,” Cassidy informed me and hung up.
I went down to the house and talked to Mom and Dad while I played with Kyle. Greg and Angie said they were tired and needed to take a nap. I just rolled my eyes at Mom, and she smirked at me. No one was buying that fiction.
“What are you doing tonight?” Dad asked.
“I have no idea. Cassidy has taken over my dating life, since Eve’s out of town.”
“Maybe you could take your Mom. She’s been bitching that I never take her anywhere.”
Say what?
“You know, Kyle and I need to go take our own nap.”
“Don’t you want to hear how this turns out?” Mom asked.
I didn’t even respond. I didn’t want to be seen as taking sides. Kyle and I were out the door before the fireworks began. The ’rents did this about once a year. Mom said it got things cleared up between them. I think Dad did it because he said the makeup portion of the evening was fun. I pretended that I had no idea what he was talking about.
I remember when I was maybe ten, I decided to help mediate. Greg finally had pity on me and dragged me out of the room. He explained to me that they weren’t really fighting. Sure sounded like it to me.
JIM SHOWED UP AT SIX. No one had come to get Kyle yet, so I assumed he was my date. Jim looked at me and shook his head.
“Haven’t you even taken a shower?”
“Why, do I need one?” I teased him.
Even I could smell myself.
“Dude, Cassidy’s going to kill both of us.”
I handed him Kyle, and neither one of them seemed too sure of the other. I figured that if Dad could drop me on my head, and I survived, what was the worst Jim could do? I heard Kyle squawk when my shower started. When I came out, Angie was holding a crying Kyle, and Jim looked guilty.
“You are not leaving him like this,” Angie said, looking at her baby.
For some reason, I could get Kyle to calm down when no one else could.
“Let me get dressed, and I’ll have a talk with the little man,” I offered her.
Jim was in jeans and a nice t-shirt so I figured I was safe wearing the same. I grabbed my new leather jacket and my boots and I was ready to go. Kyle reached for me when Angie stood up. I took him and he stopped crying. We walked downstairs and when Kyle saw his dad, he reached for him. I was off the hook for the night. Angie kissed me on the cheek, and Jim and I hit the road.
WHEN WE GOT TO CASSIDY’S, I about fell down when I saw my date. I honestly think Jim would have rather me take Lisa Felton. Sitting on the couch was Suzanne. I couldn’t keep the grin off my face as brother and sister eyed each other. Cassidy came waltzing in. Oh, lord, her makeup was worse than ever before.
“Suzanne, can you fix that?” I said, glancing at Cassidy.
At first, she wasn’t sure what I was talking about. She finally noticed the makeup job.
“Oh, honey, come with me,” Suzanne said, and she led Cassidy back upstairs.
“What the hell, man, I thought we talked about not taking my sister out?” Jim asked me.
“What’s wrong with David dating your sister?” Coach Hope asked.
“Yeah, Jim, what’s wrong with it?” I teased him.
He almost blurted something out and then thought better of it. I almost saw my buddy go up in flames in front of his girlfriend’s dad. He finally came up with a plausible answer.
“How would Brad and Cassidy do on a double date?” he asked.
He had a point there. Brad would not come back alive. I finally clued Jim in.
“You better talk to Cassidy, because she took over who I was going out with. She didn’t like any of my choices. So you can be mad at her.”
His shoulders slumped in defeat. I was confused as to why Cassidy would pick Suzanne. I personally loved spending time with her, so I didn’t have an issue with it. I think Jim saw his make-out time going up in smoke. I was sure Cassidy had figured something out, so I left it to the girls.
When they came back down, Coach Hope wanted to know where we were going. Since I was buying, Cassidy and Jim would let me pick. I, in turn, let my date choose.
“I heard a rumor that Granny’s has fresh walleye, and they’re doing a fish boil,” Suzanne told us.
Jim and I perked right up. Walleye are found in northern lakes. It was a little early in the season to be seeing it since most of the lakes were still covered in ice. Walleye is a firm, mild white fish. My family had been to Door County in Wisconsin and experienced a real fish boil. I personally like my fish grilled, or battered and fried, but I liked the corn and potatoes that come from the boil.
Door County is north of Green Bay on Lake Michigan. Its economy is primarily tourism. It’s one of the go-to spots for Midwesterners. Besides the lake, it’s an enclave of artists. They have everything from handmade furniture, to paintings, to antique dealers. They sell some of the best fudge I’ve ever had. They also have cherry everything. We’re talking wine, beer, pies, candy ... you name it, they have it.