Can I play too?
No!
Why not?
You can’t catch.
Can so.
Can’t. You always drop the ball.
I don’t!
Do! You always spoil our game.
Please?
No! You can watch.
I watch the kids play
They throw, catch, retrieve
I watch their fun
I wonder why can’t I?
My dad and I throw and catch
I fumble, I tumble
He says try again
Hold up your glove
See the ball all the way.
I watch, a picture of concentration
Willing my hand to catch
My eyes never leaving the ball.
We do this most afternoons.
You can’t play.
Why?
You can’t catch.
I’m playing for a different team.
Good. We don’t want you.
Wouldn’t play with you anyway.
Suits us. You’re a loser.
We’ll see.
You playing left right out?
Centre field.
I watch the game unfold
My team a bunch of triers
A bit like me,
We fall behind, poor fielding
Better batters, longer hits
We sneak back into the game
Loaded bases, Jessy hits out.
Game tied up.
Last innings, they need one home.
Two down last batter
Ball flies in my direction
I remember my dad’s words
Silence, I see the ball, it floats an eternity
Noise erupts, the ball in my glove.
You wanna play with us
You can play centre field.
Why?
It’s your best spot
You think?
Yes we saw what you did.
Oh and that’s why?
Yes, great catch, tied up the game.
Oh so now I can catch?
Morpethroad 
Yup, that’s about how I remembered it when I was a kid. First it was no no no, then they saw you could actually do something and suddenly they are fighting to get you on their team.
Oh good you could see yourself in this one, thanks Jackie for reading and your comment.
You must prove your worth 🙂
Sometimes yes. Thanks for reading and your comment.
🙂
Too often the case. Unfortunately, some people don’t have dads who can teach them
True Al, good point.
A great little story here Michael. I’m hopeless, a ball is thrown – my arms are out, my eyes are closed..
You keep your eye on the ball Jenny, sort of like life in a way.
that explains why I’m in this mess…
well I would never say that you know….
Love this. It brings back my childhood-oh how I loved to play baseball. Almost never got the chance, ” She’s too short” ” She’s too skinny”…but then finally, “Look at her run!” Thank God for that 🙂 Great piece, Michael!
Thanks Mandy glad you could connect. So you got a game in the end.
Kids…
Don’t you just love em?