◊◊◊
After dinner, there were a couple of scheduled interviews Frank had set up. Neither of the interviewers had seen the fight video, so we just talked about my movie premiere and the one I was working on. Frank promised me talking points for the fight because he was sure it would come up in the other interviews that had been scheduled.
After I was done, I was told to call home. Luckily, my dad answered.
“Are you okay?” Dad asked.
“Yeah, it could’ve been worse,” I admitted.
“Where was your security? I thought Rita had someone with you at all times.”
“He was here. I just ran out to the car because I forgot my iPad. I never imagined they’d be lying in wait like that. It wasn’t his fault,” I said.
“Your mom wants to talk to you,” he said.
“Tell her I’m in a coma and can’t talk right now,” I begged.
“He says he’s in a coma.”
“Give me that phone.”
“We keep having these discussions. Do I need to give you a lecture?” Mom asked.
“Only if it would make you feel better. I was only protecting myself,” I said.
“How’s your coma?”
“It’s getting better. I’ll be fine,” I said.
I missed my parents.
Then my mom ruined my day.
“Call Cassidy,” she ordered.
I contemplated not doing it but was afraid of what she might do if I didn’t call her.
“Hey, it’s David,” I said with a little cheer in my voice.
“Before we talk, are you all right?” she asked.
“I’m good. My stomach and ribs are tender, but nothing serious. I got off easy,” I admitted.
“Good,” she said and let a long breath out. “I’m embarrassed to let anyone know I’ve been working with you. Have you not listened to a word I’ve said during your training? Do you know how lucky you are to have walked away from that attack?”
I knew this wasn’t good. Cassidy had me pull up the video, and we walked through the fight step by step. All I can say is that she was right. I’d held back and put myself in danger from the beginning. If I’d attacked first, the whole fight would’ve been over quickly. Instead, I let Al get the first shot in, which put me on the ground. Cassidy was impressed that I got my butt up on my feet quickly, but she wasn’t impressed that I only hit him hard enough to knock him down.
Cassidy went to great lengths to explain how I’d knocked Al on his ass multiple times, and each time he got back up. If I’d hit him full strength, he wouldn’t have gotten back up. I knew Cassidy preached over and over again that if you could incapacitate an opponent, do so! There were some disparaging remarks about me going back to remedial training until I understood this basic concept. I was worried she might use the video of my strikes as an example of how not to put someone down.
I could tell I might live the next time I saw her when she commented on my sunglasses never coming off. That made me chuckle. If the Japanese company saw my real fight, they might be excited that their sunglasses worked as advertised.
◊◊◊ Wednesday December 16
I skipped running this morning for two reasons. The first was my side and stomach were feeling the effects of catching a bat. It was no worse than being sacked, but it still hurt. The second was that I was once again the flavor of the week as far as the paparazzi were concerned.
I’d seen the video. Coming off the ground like I had and then right into a palm strike that took Al off his feet was impressive. The final sequence of me fending off Al’s determined attack, and then the two kicks to finish it, were something I would expect to see in a movie. It was almost as if I’d framed the final sequence as I backed up to the car. Sometimes you get lucky.
Instead of running, I went to the studio because we had some more scenes with Hannah. Jessup made me take my shirt off, and I had some noticeable bruising. I think it was all a scam because he decided we didn’t need a love scene with Hannah. The reason I thought it was a scam was that everyone had hung around to hear him tell me. I took it like a man and waited until I got to the privacy of my trailer before I cried. I blamed Al; he was going to die.
If I’d thought it through, I would have realized the love scene was never happening. Just because I’d conned the writers into creating the scene, it never meant that Jessup would use it. It would have made sense if we were shooting a raunchy teen comedy, but this was much darker than the TV show ever tried to be. They took pity on me and let me go to baseball practice.
◊◊◊
We were back to practicing at USC’s field. When we arrived, I was surprised that Coach Boyd and his pitchers weren’t around. When Coach Revilla saw me, he waved me over. He was with another man I’d never met before.
“David, I’d like you to meet Lucas Kite from our scouting department. He happened to be in the area to check out a couple of prospects and is here as a favor to me,” Coach Revilla explained.
“Coach says you have some potential. You’re a junior in high school, correct?”
“Yes, sir.”
“What position do you play?”
“Shortstop, and I pitch.”
“You’ve never played any outfield?” Lucas asked.
“Not really,” I admitted.
“I hear you’re an exceptional athlete and excel at football as a quarterback. Is it true that you’re possibly the best high school quarterback in the nation?”
“I’ve been told that.”
He gave me a little smile.
“What is your long-term interest in baseball? I’m asking about beyond high school. Have you ever considered playing professional baseball someday?” Lucas asked.
“Baseball has always been my favorite sport. When I was growing up, I dreamed of being the Cubs’ starting shortstop.”
“That’s good to hear,” Lucas said and then looked at Coach Revilla. “I’d like to see him hit first, then we can move him into the field. I want to see him at shortstop and center field.”
Coach Revilla signaled to someone, and most of the USC baseball team came out onto the field to warm up. I was told that many had skipped class because they’d been told a major-league scout was on campus. While they warmed up, Lucas took my measurements and had me do some timed runs.
He’d seen the video of my fight and wanted to see my injuries. I made sure I was stretched out, especially my torso area, before I stepped up to hit. Coach Revilla reminded me of the five-step system before I took my first pitch.
The pitcher must have been nervous because he uncorked a fastball that got away from him and almost killed me. Luckily, I only had to dust myself off. I turned to the catcher.
“Is he always wild?” I asked.
“No. You should be fine.”
The pitcher nodded to me to let me know he didn’t mean it. I expected another fastball and guessed right. Overthrown fastballs tend to rise in the zone, and this one did just that. Belt-level over the center of the plate is every hitter’s dream, and I drove the ball into left field for a hit. The catcher trotted out and talked to his pitcher. Whatever he said seemed to work. The pitcher calmed down and began to work.
I would compare him to a good Double-A pitcher. I could handle most of his pitches, but he had me guessing bad at times. When I’d cranked three out of the park, Lucas sent me to shortstop. Coach Revilla hit me balls and called out different scenarios. Then it was out to center field.
Toward the end, I was told to throw home. They’d had me play shallow center field. Coach would hit the ball over my head, and I had to run it down at the warning track. I then would pivot, get my feet right, and fire the ball towards home plate. This was exactly like when I scrambled as a quarterback. Footwork and proper technique made the difference in a good throw. They asked me to do that five times before I was called in.
I met with Lucas alone. I tried to figure out why Coach Revilla had packed up and left. Lucas never said anything about it.