Field of blue, p.23
Field of Blue, page 23
“But I am going to heaven?”
“Absolutely.”
The two were quiet for several more seconds.
“I will miss my parents.”
“They will miss you and grieve your transformation. But it is a transformation, not an ending.”
“I don’t understand,” said Darrell.
“I know you don’t, so I ask that you trust your heart right now. Trust that you shall be made whole.”
Darrell took a deep ragged breath, letting it out with the ghost of a smile.
“Okay.”
“Darrell, will you do me a favor?”
CHAPTER NINETY-FIVE
“Gentlemen, please gather round,” announced Coach Jackson loudly. When it was quiet enough that he didn’t need to shout he continued.
“This is the next step, game seven of the National League Championship Series.
“We have played one hundred sixty-two regular season games. We have now won three of the six post season games in this series. If we want to be in the World Series this is it. Right here, right now. We need to take this one game!
“We have been here, in the divisional series four times, in the last ten years! I don’t know about you, but I am sick and tired of being here, exactly right here and then walking away empty handed.”
He looked down, scowling, before raising his head. He looked at his players and into many sets of eyes awaiting his next words.
“Have you had enough?”
The locker room exploded with yelling and obscenities.
“Play this game with pride! Play this game with effort. Play this particular game for our own Coach Smith.”
Some players looked around. Everyone was somber.
“Darrell is losing his fight with cancer. We all know that. He knows that. And it is beyond sad. Fortunately, right now he does not seem to be in any pain. That’s good.
“I met with Darrell, Coach Smith, three days ago. He seems ready to pass on. Why he hasn’t is beyond me except for two things. His parents… and this team.
“You guys, this team and the Make A Wish Foundation, gave Darrell something special. He is a part of us forever and we are a part of him.
“He asked about you guys. Darrell is dying, yet he wants to know how you guys are doing.
“Coach Smith doesn’t have ten years. He doesn’t have ten months. He doesn’t even have ten days.”
Coach Jackson cleared his throat.
Several of the men had tears streaming down their faces. Darrell had become a part of the team instantly. He had come to practices and games. Several of them had seen him sick and throwing up. When Darrell was in the stadium Doc Jensen had hovered over him so the boy could be with them safely.
Coach Jackson opened a small bag and handed it to one of the assistants.
“These are pin-back buttons with an image of Darrell in his Dodgers uniform. I have cleared it with the league for you to wear them for this game on your left chest.”
The buttons were rapidly pinned on.
“Coach Smith is watching us at home. Let’s get this done!”
Bill Sullivan was fired up. He threw fastballs at over one hundred miles an hour. His breaking balls and curve balls were only touched twice.
Inning after inning he put batters down, refusing to walk anyone.
He had all the stamina he needed. He had the speed and he had ferocity. He was at his absolute peak, better than ever before.
He threw the occasional changeup and a few sinkers. He was perfect with his screwball, especially against right-handed batters.
There was only one hit, shut down by the shortstop with a blazing throw to first.
Bill Sullivan sat down at the end of the seventh inning and started wiping his face. Marenik was headed in as the closer. The Dodgers were in the process of pummeling their opponent nine to zero. Bill and Jake bumped fists and looked over at their Coach. The man was wearing a rare smile and seemed a little shocked.
Two innings later the game was in the history books.
“They did it!” yelled Darrell to his parents, while holding his spindly arms high in the air. “We won!”
CHAPTER NINETY-SIX
Megan was holding her belly with one hand, feeling like a waddling duck as she looked for a place to sit down. The bench she selected was clean after Seattle’s last rain. For an early October afternoon, it was warm in the lee of the University of Washington Tower, perfect for such a special day. The building was helping reflect the sun, warming her neck and shoulders while keeping the slight breeze at bay. She had forty-five minutes before her next class and welcomed the rest.
Taking classes and working simultaneously while pregnant was taking its toll. Bill wanted her to move in with him in California after the baby came but she wanted to be in medical school here, not there. They agreed that at the end of the month she would quit working and he would provide whatever was needed for her studies and the baby until they made permanent plans. She had found a great condo to lease for the three of them with an extra room for Natalie and a loft for Jake’s visits. She felt sure that Natalie would make Jake take the ground floor bedroom.
Megan was slightly out of breath as she patted her belly, holding and growing their seven-month-old child. The touch brought back memories of Thomas in the same belly. Six-year-old memories; of him moving when she walked, when certain music was on the radio. Of times when he would kick her and put a small hand out so that she could feel it, just as this one was doing. They would need to choose male names.
She moved on the bench trying to get a little more comfortable as the warm clothes and rare sun made her drowsy. She smiled, remembering now about the pressure on her bladder and how much her legs could ache when pregnant.
She rubbed her back muscles through her yellow blouse. It was Thomas’s favorite color; at least she thought it was as she had only seen him in yellow shirts. She now had seven of them, another reason for her to smile. She had plenty of reasons to smile this time around.
The bench was in a corner against the side of the building, and she laid her head carefully against the brick and closed her eyes for just a second.
They were sitting on their hillside and the flowers were white daisies this time. His yellow shirt was a nice contrast against the green grass and white flowers.
Hi Mom. I’m sorry you’re tired.
It’s okay.
Oh, Thomas. I have missed you. I haven’t seen you for several months. Are you okay?
I’m fine. I have been playing with friends and animals and I knew you were happy and didn’t need me so much.
Megan paused, struggling for words.
You will always be my son, Thomas. The new baby will never change that.
But it will, and in wondrous ways.
How can you know that?
I just do. Do you know what today is, Mom?
Of course, it would have been your sixth birthday today.
That’s right.
Thomas had a big smile.
Are you really ready for me to have a baby brother, Thomas?
I told you Christmas was coming, he replied.
That’s true, you did.
Well, your Christmas is coming right now, Mom.
She suddenly felt warmer, and everything was bright and clear.
Thomas walked toward her and wrapped his arms around her belly.
She could smell his hair and the warmth of his body against hers. It felt so good.
I can feel you, Thomas! I’ve never been able to feel you before!
Thomas looked up at her with his beautiful smile.
The warmth grew with a light that engulfed her and she felt him grow smaller against her as he quickly faded into her blouse, through her skin and into the body waiting for him.
Thomas is my name.
CHAPTER NINETY-SEVEN
The sky was blue and clear overhead, with a skiff of clouds way to the west. The air was fresh, having been scrubbed by a brief windstorm off the ocean the day before. The temperature was seventy-three degrees with a slight wind partially blocked by the stadium walls.
The weather would not affect his pitching and Bill let himself enjoy the sunshine and the crowd, lifting his hat in salute as he circled the mound with a smile on his face.
The fans roared their approval. They loved the game of baseball. They were the Dodgers home crowd and supported their team with gusto and an occasional fight. There was magic in the air. Bill could feel the electricity and it brought a smile to his face, and goose bumps down the middle of his back. His hands were rock steady.
Megan and Natalie and Kai were in the stands, and all was right with the world. He had no pain and was throwing better than ever.
He looked around the diamond. The team was ready.
He looked toward the plate where Jake lifted his face mask to reveal a huge grin, then pulled it back into place. It was time and with his heart rate under control Bill took a deep breath, ready for his first pitch of the seventh and final game of the National League Championship Series.
Eric studied the television screen with a furrowed brow, like he had heard something outside, over the sound of the TV. He had his head cocked slightly to the left, and his eyes were also looking in that direction. He was wearing his Dodger’s cap, the jersey with Sullivan’s number on it, and was holding the autographed baseball he had been given in the hospital last year. Eric studied the baseball in his hand moving his head slightly to see it and the signatures from different angles.
“He’ll be okay,”
“What was that Eric,” asked his mother, Caroline as she studied the National Geographic in front of her. Bill, John, and Julio, as well as other Dodgers players they had met, had a lifetime friend and fan in her son. She smiled and turned another page of the magazine, since nothing was happening in the game yet.
“Bill and his daughter. They will be okay.”
David Hall looked over at Eric, puzzled. “Of course, they will. Okay here we go.”
The Cubs decided to have Chavez lead off, hoping to get an early hit or even a home run to dampen the Dodger’s spirit. Chavez stepped into the batter’s box and lifted his bat, pointing at the centerfield wall.
The Dodgers were instantly up, ready to sprint toward Bill, the Cubs players a second behind.
The commentators flinched. “Okay Folks, here we go again. Chavez just-”
Bill used his glove to point at the visitors’ dugout with a big grin. “You want to sit down now or after I strike you out?” he yelled.
Julio threw his head back, let out a loud laugh, then gave Bill a small bow.
“Good luck, Bill.”
“Same to you.”
Kai started laughing and gave a playful push on Natalie’s shoulder. “That’s your dad!”
Natalie smiled a bit, not completely comfortable with her father’s occasional oddball humor.
Megan smiled and ate some popcorn.
“Wow, Ken. I thought we were going to have a fist fight on our hands before this thing ever got started.”
“It did look that way, Jim. The dynamic between these two competitors is bizarre to say the least. They like to light each other up, that’s for sure. At least this time Sullivan gave Chavez a taste of his own medicine.”
The two commentators looked at each other like “what’s next?”
When the dugouts settled back down, Jake called for a high and inside fastball. Bill finished his windup, snapping his wrist forward at the end of the pitch, his stare never leaving the target, Jake’s mitt. Bill saw Julio’s swing, almost a blur as the ball skipped off the top of the bat and directly into Jake’s facemask.
Jake stumbled, flipped the facemask up and grabbed the ball, always the first priority before he rubbed his forehead. He flipped the ball out to Bill, giving him a quick head nod that he was alright.
“Sorry, Jake. I didn’t mean to do that,” said Julio.
“No worries.”
“He’s a bit faster.”
“That he is,” said Jake, as Julio stepped back into the batter’s box.
“Strike one.”
“Welcome back folks! This is the CBS Sports Network with Ken Hamilton and Jim Manning. Ken, this game is a battle. Sullivan is throwing as well as ever with pinpoint accuracy and fastball speeds of one hundred and five miles an hour. Now we are in top of the ninth and if the Cubs don’t get it done here the Dodgers win.”
“That’s right, Jim. Sullivan is just dominating. The Cubs tried to lead off with Chavez, attempting to chill Sullivan with an early homer but it didn’t work. He came in with a two base hit then Sullivan struck out the next three batters. In the fourth inning Chavez was able to drive in one run but the Dodgers outfield stopped him at second base and then Sullivan retired the next batter stranding Chavez again.”
“The Dodgers lead the Cubs three to one, Ken. Here in the 9th inning we have the same scenario as in the fourth, with a runner on second and Chavez at bat. If Sullivan and the Dodgers can dodge a Chavez home run, they are headed to the World Series.”
“Nice pun, Jim,” said Ken, shaking his head.
Chavez was just outside the batter’s box clenching the bat, twisting the wood roughly between his hands, staring out at Bill. The heat of the wood warmed his hands and he swung wickedly at the air then stepped up to the plate. Chavez was holding the bat high and loose making sure his left foot cleats were dug into place and when satisfied, planted the right. Taking a deep breath, he settled in for the next pitch as the crowd started in on him, the roar building.
Julio blocked them out easily wearing a tight little smile.
He’ll try high and inside. Let’s get after it.
“Oh my God! Oh my God! GO DAD!!” Natalie screamed hoarsely.
Megan and Kai glanced at Natalie, warm smiles spreading across their faces.
Megan’s pulse was rushing, caught up and swept with the crowd. “STRIKE IM OUT!”
Kai opened her red cooler, retrieved a water bottle from the ice packs and waited for what was going to happen.
Bill launched a blistering fastball high and inside. Chavez swung a smidge late and low, fouling the ball several feet over the umpire’s head.
“Strike two!” yelled the umpire, snapping his right hand smartly to the side.
Jake gave Bill a signal.
Bill, eye’s narrowed, he smiled thinly at Jake then nodded. Eyes hard, nostrils flared, Bill looked at Chavez. Jake adjusted into position, glove-up, target ready.
Bill threw the curve ball, which dropped beautifully just outside the strike zone.
“The count’s now two and one, Jim. Sullivan nods to Parsons. He’s got the call folks…and here we go. This could be the game right here!”
CHAPTER NINETY-EIGHT
Bill stepped onto the rubber, rolling the ball slowly in his hands until the seams felt just right, then dropped his hand, covering the ball with his glove. The hand holding the ball was hidden as he pulled his left knee high. When his eyes left Chavez, Bill drove forward hard, his eyes focusing on a single dot, deep in the pocket of Jake’s glove. Bill finished with an explosion as his left foot locked into the depression just in front of the mound, his wrist snapping hard. Bill’s eyes never left the target, face fierce, jaws clenched.
Julio was late!
“STRIKE THREE!”
“The crowd here at Dodger stadium has just exploded. Julio Chavez struck out and the Dodgers are headed to the World Series. Bill Sullivan, written off just a year ago, has made an incredible comeback. As you recall he was injured badly in a car accident. Few people believed he would ever play major league ball again.”
“That’s correct, Jim. The doctors said it was too dangerous. But come back he did, with an incredible finish to this very strange season. Bill Sullivan heads for his first World Series!”
Beer, hats, popcorn, and pillow seats were flying everywhere.
“YEEEAAH DAD!” screamed Natalie. “Oh, my God. He did it! Go DAD!” She gave Megan a quick hug.
Megan hugged Natalie back before sticking her fingers in her mouth to let loose with a loud shrill whistle. They hugged each other again and then Natalie started waving her Dodger’s foam number one finger proudly in the air. Kai and Megan gave each other a high five. They watched as Bill was engulfed in a knot of players, pounding each other on the back, hugging and yelling. Soon, from the tangle of men, head bare, Bill was thrust into the air above them, a grin filling his face from ear to ear.
Julio and the entire Cubs team were walking toward Bill and the Dodgers. Jake saw them coming and so did several other teammates, who began to open a lane.
Julio spoke as he shook Bill’s hand. “Congratulations, Bill, it has been a tremendous pleasure to have been on this field and to compete against you, especially after what you went through.”
“Thank you, Chavez. You are a fierce competitor.”
“You could have quit, or you could have used drugs, but you didn’t, and I applaud you.
“You could have walked me, but you didn’t. You won this game fair and square.”
“You’re okay, Chavez. I look forward to seeing you next season.”
Julio leaned close. “Natalie will need you over there.”
“What?”
Julio turned and shook hands with Jake and shared a smile. He shook a few more hands on the way, then stopped about twenty feet from Bill.
Bill looked up, caught a glimpse of his daughter and Megan waving, and started their way, wanting to see them for a few minutes before the ceremonies kicked off.
Natalie, Megan, and Kai started for the stairs, hugging the walkways outside half-wall, separating them from the field. Kai made sure she held tight to the cooler, knowing it would be needed shortly. They were being jostled by the surging crowd. Fans were climbing over chairs, wanting to get onto the field as quickly as they could.
When Natalie, Megan, and Kai were about ten feet from the stairs, the crowd surged again as a wave of people came over the first row of seats and onto the walkway. There was not enough room, fans were jostled, and someone tripped.
