Foul Ball

Coach had the team out on the field practicing extra the next day between classes, but I didn't mind. It was something to focus on, something to keep my mind sharp and my nerves at ease. I hated that Macey was hurting, and especially that she was hurting because of her own mother. I hadn't forgotten the stories I'd heard back in Macey's kitchen. The relationship she had with her parents sounded toxic, to say the least, and I didn't like seeing her in pain. "Gregory!" Coach shouted, waving me down from the sidelines. I tossed the ball to Beau and trotted over to him, leaning in as the sweat dripped down my brow. It wasn't a hot day, necessarily, but the sun felt harsh. I was more than ready to be done with practice and finished with school so I could take Macey on our date. "Boy, you better get your head in this game," he said, poking me in the shoulder. "I have never seen you so distracted, son. What's going on?" "Sir, I have no idea."

"Is it a girl?"

"A girl?" I chuckled, wondering how on earth I'd been acting to get to the point of grabbing the attention of my coach's mean side. "What do you mean, Coach?"

"What I mean is that you're climbing the latter out there, kid, and that's not like you at all!"

"I'm sorry, coach," I said with a shake of my head. "I didn't even realize I wasn't throwing right. I must have been distracted."

"If it's a girl, Gregory, I suggest you get out of that trap real fast and focus on what you're here to do, which is play ball," said coach, playing the tough-love card. "We have a game coming up and you need to be ready. Do ya hear me?" "Loud and clear, Coach," I said, flashing him a smile. "I'll try to focus."

I refrained from saying anything that might get me fired up, like how there was no way in hell I would ever break up with a woman like Macey over a game like baseball, and that if I had to choose between the sport and the girl, I'd probably choose the girl.

But I didn't say that, because I knew that coach would probably slap me upside the head for saying something like that in front of him. Baseball came before anything else in the world in his eyes.

Despite my annoyance, I focused more on pitching and less about Macey and our date tonight. I was stoked, no doubt, and the surprise I had for her was a good one. I knew she'd like it, and I couldn't wait to spend the evening with her. After practice I showered and changed, bidding my friends a good night, and then walked to the car to pick up Macey from her apartment. My phone rang as I pulled out of the school's parking lot and I answered it, pressing the phone to my "Hey, ma."

ear.

"Hi, son," my mom said, sounding thrilled to hear my voice. "How are you? I miss you."

I mentally kicked myself, remembering that I had promised a visit to my mother as soon as I could, and that was weeks ago. Unlike Macey's family, my mom and I had always been close. After being abandoned by my father as a child, she had single handedly raised me to be a good man. A good person. She'd gone to nursing school during the day and worked at night to support the two of us, often not sleeping for days so she could focus on our family. It had been difficult, for both of us, but somehow, we'd turned out alright. Just the two of us.

"I'm sorry," I said earnestly. "I just started dating someone, and it's brand new. I lost my focus for a minute."

"A new girl?" Mom gushed. "Tell me about her!"

I glanced at the clock on my dashboard and laughed. "I'm on my way to pick her up right now for a date. But I promise I will call you tomorrow and tell you all about it." "You better," Mom teased. "I love you, J."

"Love you too, Mom."