The local minor league baseball team was playing their Fourth of July Game with fireworks afterward. A group of her colleagues were going to the game. They planned to sit in the same section of bleacher seats and make a party of it. She knew who would drink too much beer to drive home. She knew who would leave with whom as though the evening had already like an instant replay of other evenings. There are few surprises in a small town. Although the summer crowds doubled the population in summer it remained a very small town. She debated whether to take the bus across town to the Stadium or whether to drive her car across town to the Stadium. She decided on the bus. She would meet up with her friends but would not have to be a designated driver for those who drank too much to find their way home. Was she being selfish? No she was saving her car's upholstery from the inevitable. Her conscience was completely clear when she closed the door of her little house and headed for the bus stop.
She arrived at the gate in plenty of time. Even outside the stadium one could hear the noises of the crowd. She picked up her ticket and started up the stadium stairs. She liked this little stadium next to the bay and the minor league baseball team that played here. The tickets were inexpensive, the refreshments were inexpensive and the crowds were small enough to make it a pleasant experience. When there was a lull in the game she could look out over the bay to watch the windsurfers and feel the breeze off the water. At the top of the stairs there was a line of refreshment stands. She purchased her token beer. With luck she could sip at it the entire evening and lift the full cup it if anyone asked if she needed a refill. Drinking was not a favorite occupation with her. Others appeared to need it to have fun or feel excitement, she did not. L
Her old friend was already in her seat waiting for her. 'Hey, old bean,' she smiled.
'Hey, girlfriend. Sit on this side of me, I'm saving that seat for my brother.'
'Your brother? I can't remember you having mentioned a brother in the four years I've known you.' she said as she took the assigned seat beside her friend. She waved and greeted the people around her trying to notice everything about which she could give a positive comment.
Barb and she had been friends from the day they met.
Down on the field the players were warming up. Tossing the ball back and forth simulating grounders, throwing between bases and then into the pitchers mound. Tonight they were warming up to play an old rival. She liked the minor league teams better than the majors. One could see the competition between players more clearly. She was the one who cheered loudest when the 'man and a half' hit another home run. Sometimes people moved to other seats because she cheered too loudly while sitting on the edge of her seat. In defense she would say,' I'm well behaved at the opera but this is baseball.' A statement intended to explain her behavior to everyone.
Tonight was the second game in a three game series. Last night the rival team had won 9-5 to a packed house. The Stadium was packed again tonight, everyone on his or her feet cheering for the hometeam as the first batter stepped up to the plate. There was a wind up and the batter swung into air. Strike one! Head hung; the batter pawed the ground and swung the bat in practice swipes. It looked as if last night's defeat and the fact that the teams were very evenly matched was going to make for an interesting game. She cheered even though two more batters stuck out.
There was a short lull as the teams changed sides. The team mascot, ran out to entertain the crowd during this time. He shot soft foam balls to the children in the crowd. She looked over at her friend and saw a man standing beside her friend and looking at her. Her heart leaped and her eyes misted over. She was smiling broadly when her friend turned to her and said, 'Look who's here! This is my brother. He's just moved from the West Coast to the city. Now that he's only an hour away we'll see him more often. Won't we brat?'
'Hello, it's nice to meet you,' she heard herself saying.
She smiled at her friend and said,' How nice for you.'
He nudged his sister playfully.' Why don't you sit on the aisle Barb and give a guy a chance to enjoy the company of two women.'
Barb looked at her friend. ' Is that ok with you girlfriend?'
'Of course it is,' she said smiling her biggest smile.
He settled into the seat beside her and took her hand in his. Barbara noticed and said,
You two have met I take it.'
'Yes we've met. I just didn't know she was a friend of yours Barb.'
Turning, he looked into her eyes and said, 'I forgot to get your number before I left. I stopped by your house before coming here tonight but you had already left. I was afraid I wouldn't see you this weekend.'
She stared into his light brown eyes and a mist filled her own eyes. 'I'm glad you found me. Do you like baseball? I mean really like baseball?'
Barb listened to this conversation surprised that these two already knew each other.
'I like it well enough,' he said looking at the way her hair blew back from her face, soft and curly.
She watched him watch her. They seemed suspended in space together. The world ceased to exist for minutes at a time. It was pure excitement and she was grateful that it was happening to her at this moment.
Barb stood at the end of the first half of play and asked if she could get another round or refreshments for anyone.
' No thanks Barb, I'm fine.' she said lifting her full beer glass to take a sip as if proof were needed.
Barb left them alone and walked toward the snack counters which were thronged with people buying food and drink.
He laughed, ' That's the first sip I've seen you take of that stuff. You must like it a lot.'
He was laughing at her social ploy but there was no malice in his laughter only a small jest. They were happy tonight to be together after they both wondered if it would ever happen again. Nothing could spoil their joy.
The game commenced once again. They joined in the fun, yelling. 'Charge!' And joined in the wave. The game was hard fought with the score seesawing between the two teams. The game continued as the evening turned into night. With the bases loaded at the bottom of the ninth inning, the excitement on the field was second to the excitement growing in the stands. Penov walked up to the plate; he took some practice swings in the air and then stepped up to the plate. The score board showed an unimpressive batting average. No one hoped for more than to get the rookie on first base. The pitch looked a little low but as the bat connected with the ball hope sprang from the crowd. Up and up and finally over the wall. The rookie had hit a home run with the bases loaded to end the third game. The crowd was on their feet cheering. The loudspeakers blared with noises of celebration. She was glad they had won so grandly. Nothing less would be suitable for this exciting summer night. The music continued blaring trying to keep the excitement going. Some team members enjoyed a ham dance in center field which greatly amused the crowd. The team left the field while the crowd cheered for them. The grounds were put in order and then the lights dimmed in preparation for the fireworks.
The breeze coming off the water was cool now. High above the fireworks the sky was clear with it's own display. She resisted putting her head on his shoulder in the darkened Stadium. After all this was a small town and she liked to keep her private life private. The fireworks were spectacular with a grand finale that seemed to go on forever. When the sound had finally faded away he leaned to her and whispered in her ear,' do you have plans for after the game?'
She looked at him and smiled. 'No.'
