March 2011 Archives
9 little girls in blue visors prepare to play. An adult in black and straw explains the rules; gesturally, verbally, on one approachable knee. A little black winged thing likes the smell of my sunscreen. A biker leaves the bathroom and clips in, assuming the position across a stretch of brilliant green. The girls in blue are on the move - warming up - say 10 jumping jacks, 20 big steps. Other exercises have names like windmill, washing machine, sprinkler.
"Break out the bats", he says. From where I sit a fly ball from a novice bat could do some damage, dash out my brains. The coach says be aggressive and he's promptly pelted in the knee.
"Watch the ball.. Atta girl. Sometimes they're low... Hit hard. Pivot. Step. Stop. Watch the ball. Last one, you gotta hit it. Now pick up those balls and put them in your bucket."
Emily is up against the fence. "Show me how you hit," he says. She clinks the bat against the post. "Squash the bug. Eye on the ball. Back in position. Hands by your ears. Stop at the ball". Her batting partner Amanda is Deanna's daughter. Emily is of unknown origin.
"Don't swing like a baby, swing like a big girl. Swing hard, baby." She pops one at his hip and he praises her through his tears.
"Break out the bats", he says. From where I sit a fly ball from a novice bat could do some damage, dash out my brains. The coach says be aggressive and he's promptly pelted in the knee.
"Watch the ball.. Atta girl. Sometimes they're low... Hit hard. Pivot. Step. Stop. Watch the ball. Last one, you gotta hit it. Now pick up those balls and put them in your bucket."
Emily is up against the fence. "Show me how you hit," he says. She clinks the bat against the post. "Squash the bug. Eye on the ball. Back in position. Hands by your ears. Stop at the ball". Her batting partner Amanda is Deanna's daughter. Emily is of unknown origin.
"Don't swing like a baby, swing like a big girl. Swing hard, baby." She pops one at his hip and he praises her through his tears.
