Norah woke up suddenly from the intense heat that immediately filled her room. She woke up and found the sun pouring in from her window. Norah sat up in her bed and wiped her face from sweat. She stood up and went downstairs to the kitchen. She pulled a bowl and a box of cereal off the counter and went to the fridge to grab some milk.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang.
DING DONG! DING DONG! Then followed a voice.
"Norah? Norah you there?"
Norah went to the door knowing exactly whose voice that was. She swung the door open and there standing on her withered WELCOME mat was Benny Rodriguez.
"Hey. You coming to the Sandlot?" Asked Benny, he glanced at the milk carton she was holding.
"Yeah, I'm coming. I just thought I would eat some breakfast first." Norah said as she gestured him to come in.
Benny made his way in Norah's house and sat himself in a dining chair. Norah sat next to him and poured a bowl of cereal. Benny looked at the bowl and then looked at Norah.
Norah caught his glance and said," You wanna a bowl?"
Benny smiled and said," You know me well." Norah just rolled her eyes and got a bowl out of the cupboard.
Norah and Benny have been friends since they were in diapers. As they grew, Norah never really grew interest in baseball, but Benny of course loved the game. But one day, in the summer of 1965, she just snapped. She had to find out what exactly is making baseball such an everyday activity for Benny. She grew an innocent curiosity to the game and asked Benny if she could sit in for one practice. The sandlot boys knew to treat her well, because she was Benny's best friend. When it was Norah's turn to bat, she felt nervous and excited at the same time.
Kenny DeNunez gripped the baseball in his hand and gave Ham a look. They both agreed to what they were gonna pitch Norah, a straight and fast one. Norah kept her eye on the ball and concentrated, as soon as DeNunez threw the ball, she felt the excitement build up. She gripped the bat in her hands and swung. HARD.
a big crack echoed through the Sandlot. Everyone looked up and saw the ball fly up high long and fast.
It past the fence and over Mertle's yard. The boys all gawked at Norah in silence, then a roar of congratulatory screams and pats on the back. Norah couldn't believe that she did that. After the game, and hitting at least 5 homeruns, Norah finally understood why Benny loved the game so much.
It was the summer of 1968, and it was their final year in high school.
Norah Strallas, seventeen years old, was born in a family of four. They were the regular, happy family. There was her Dad, her Mom, and her older sister, Sandra. It was fine and dandy, until her father died when she was ten. Her family slowly began to fall apart, her sister goes off the college, never calls, never writes, never visits.
Her mother off with her boyfriends to other cities and other places. Leaving Norah.
She'd come home sometimes and bring money for Norah to pay the bills and off again with her boyfriends.
Often she'd cry at night, only to be comforted by Benny who keeps her company when her mother leaves her.
Benjamin Franklin Rodriguez, also known as "The Jet." After that big pickle with the Beast and the autographed baseball by The Babe, he became a legend in their little town. Now seventeen, he was certain what he wanted in life. He was content with his family, being the only child and his mother and father a great small happy family. But he felt sorry for Norah, his best friend. Of course, they know each other inside out, but Benny felt something more than friendship from Norah. He felt comfort, safety, and he couldn't quite admit it, love.
The two teenagers finished their cereal and Norah collected the bowls and washed them. Benny looked at her and said," Go and change, we're gonna be late."
Norah eyed Benny and said," Hold your horses. Dang Benny." She walked out of the kitchen and went to her room to get dressed.
She wore jean bermuda shorts, a blue and white baseball tee, and black high tops. She tied her black hair in a pony tail and took a hat off the table and ran downstairs.
Benny was waiting for her and finally he heard steps going down the stairs. Benny looked up and saw Norah ready to play ball.