I don't own the Sandlot.
After that fateful summer day Squints started to hang around Wendy more often. She would go to his games and cheer for him. They became good friends and you could often find them at each other's houses. She always belonged to someone else though. Sure Squints had dated some girls himself as did all the guys, but he was always preoccupied. His heart was already taken.
One rainy night Squints ended up on her porch. He was drenched in the summer rain, the kind he would dance with Wendy in. He tried to knock, but couldn't bring his hand to press on her door. He took a big breath and felt the small box in his pocket. He knew he had to do this.
The door of the apartment swung open, revealing a puffy faced Wendy. She looked up at the now much taller, Squints.
He let out a breath and whispered "Hey" before she ushered him in. He didn't miss the oversized gray sweater she wore. It used to be his, he loaned it to her and never got it back. "What's wrong?" Squints asked and Wendy just collapsed into his arms and started sobbing. He held her; it terrified him how violently her body shook with each sob.
"Frank left," She said in between shaking sobs. Tears rained out of her face faster than the rain fell from the sky. "Why am I never good enough for them?" She asked in his shoulder, the one that always caught her.
"You're perfect Wendy they're just too blind to see it," Squints explained, softly stroking her hair. Over the years his glasses got thicker and he seemed almost blind.
"If I'm perfect, why do they keep leaving?" She whimpered. He took her over to the couch and made her sit down, knowing she could piece herself together better if she sat.
"Wendy, they don't know how truly lucky they were to have you," Squints said.
"You always say that," Wendy complained, looking Squints straight in the eyes.
"It's always true," Squints whispered into her ear as she leaned on him. Squints fished the box out of his pocket. "I waited 9 years to give you this," He explained before giving her the box and leaving. He couldn't bear the "no" that was destined to fallow. So he ran after he got out the door.
She couldn't catch him to say the "Yes" she never knew was in her.
They didn't talk for another week. She must have read the note a million times in that week. She wore the gold band on her left hand. Squints didn't miss that but he wasn't sure what that meant.
She had memorized the curve of each letter Squints had artfully written on the parchment. She memorized the words. It replayed in her head, with every memory it recalled.
I guess it started that summer day,
Too hot for a game.
I had planned that moment for 3 years
The plan itself was pretty lame
I jumped and you know the rest
And I know it was the best
Over the years you got to know
The boy who jumped and never let go
We became close
I was always there for you
Like you had been there for the boy who jumped
You dated everyone else
I never dabbled much in other's love
My heart had already been taken
By the lifeguard that banned me from the pool
By the girl that was with me ever since then
By the girl who fell for everyone
Who didn't know
The color of her eyes
Or why she hide them
Or how perfect she truly was
They're blue
You wish they were brown
And you are flawless,
Venus,
Beautiful,
And perfect.
Now I wish you were mine
I just can't say it
I'll wait for the impending answer
More likely composed of two
Rather than three
It was quite the poem. Wendy decided to give the answer. It was the answer she had the second she realized what he meant. She had written the answer on a piece of paper and slipped it in one of the sweaters she barrowed for a prolonged period of time, because stealing is illegal. It showed up on his doorstep.
Squints picked it up then the paper slipped out. He picked up the orange paper and flipped it over revealing, the three letters composing a simple word that never meant so much to anyone. Y-E-S.
