The phone rang.
My boss was always quick to answer it as he feared he might lose a customer if he picked it up late. "Hello, this is the Kon Café my name is Shun. How may I help you?" he said as he answered the phone. The sudden change in his expression made it clear that it wasn't a customer.
"Hey kid. It's for you." He passed me the phone and I put my ear on the receiver.
"Hello?" I asked.
"Oh Hideki!" said the voice from the other end. It was my mother, "Sorry to bother you at work but do you mind picking up some things from the store before coming home?"
As if I had a choice. "Sure." I replied
She quickly dictated me the list and I wrote it down. After giving me her love, I put the phone down.
"Hey boss its 5 o clock-" I started.
"Get out kid!" said my boss in an angry tone.
"Thanks boss, you're the best!" I replied while leaving the café.
It has been a year since my father passed away; because of which my life changed drastically. Before I used to be a crazy kid who wanted to ditch school. But now I studying my butt off every day at school and working part time job to help my mother with the bills. Life wasn't easy. I wasn't happy doing all of this I studied so that I would get admission in a good college, get a good job and earn for my family. Life just felt pointless. I mean I wasn't doing this because I wanted to I was doing it because I had to. I didn't have a choice.
"Strike three. You are out!" shouted the catcher. The disappointed looking batter went towards his team's box. I kept staring at the field across the chain link fence. This fence was the only thing that used to stop me from wanting to run over and play baseball. I wasn't a professional or anything but damn I loved baseball. I remember playing it with my dad every Sunday. It was the only thing that made me happy. But after my dad died I had no one to play with anymore. All my friends in school were into soccer or swimming and with my part time job I couldn't join my school's team. Despite that, I would every day pass by the base ball field of some school that would be practicing. I would stand there for a while, and watch them play before heading home.
Baseball was the only thing that reminded me of the good things in life. But after my dad's death I was sure that my life had lost the only joy it had. I was dead sure that I would never find happiness again.
But I was wrong.
…
I had been passing by the baseball field every day for a week now, but I hadn't seen anybody lately. I presumed that the kids must have gone for some national championship. Though it was upsetting to see an empty field, I kept thinking how lucky they were to be in some competition. The very thought gave me goose bumps.
"Clank!" I heard a sound. The field was certainly empty but I could clearly hear the sound of a batter hitting a ball. I kept walking beside the fence when I suddenly noticed someone standing on the batter's box. It was young girl with pink hair who was trying to hit every ball which the pitching machine kept throwing at her but she couldn't even make a shot. I tried to resist my laugh but I ended up laughing loudly. The girl turned her attention towards me; she gave me a long death stare but I kept laughing.
"GET LOST!" she shouted at the top of her lungs. Instead of replying I kept laughing louder and louder.
"GET LOST!" she screamed again.
"Make me." I replied. I must have hit a nerve of her because she suddenly came rushing towards me and begin climbing the chain linked fence which separated us both. In a matter of seconds she had reached the top. I realized in that instant that she might kill me if she came down. I quickly began running, only turning occasionally to see whether she was following or not. Luckily she didn't and I made it home alive.
I had a hard time sleeping at night as the memory of the angry look on her face kept me entertained. I knew not why or how but I wanted to find out who that girl was.
I just had to.
…
"Okay Yui. You can do this only you need is one home run and then you can go home." The girl breathed to herself.
"Like self talking helps." I shouted across the fence. The girl turned towards me and her face became flustered with anger.
"What the hell is your problem? Why are you trying to annoy me?" she shouted loudly.
"Well, I'm no pro but looks like you could use some help." I pointed the obvious to her.
"Like you could play any better."
"I could brag for hours about how well I play or I could show you?"
She pointed the bat towards me. "Show me."
"How am I-"
"Climb the fence, sissy." At that moment I felt an admiration that I had never felt for anyone other than my parents. I would have never had the guts to climb over a fence. But this girl was fearless. I truly did feel like a sissy.
…..
"and it's a home run." I announced as the ball went over the fence and into the trees. The girl stared in shock. She turned annoyingly towards me.
"okay your better than me. Now get lost." She started
"seriously?" I questioned.
"NOW!" she shouted again.
"Listen kid. Now I admit I am a sissy who wouldn't climb a fence. But you are bad at baseball and I can help." I advised her.
"Yesterday you were laughing at me and today you want to teach me how to hit a home run. If you expect me to believe you want to help me then you must be a moron."
"You are right. I really have no interest in helping you. I just want to pay baseball and helping you is the only way I can." I replied truthfully. I think she was taken aback by answer for that sparkle in her made it clear that she admired my honesty.
"Meet me here at 5:15 sharp and don't be late." And she began walking away from me.
"Wait a minute! My name is Hideki. What is yours?
"Like I tell a stranger my name." she replied.
I couldn't help but smiling, I had never met someone like her.
