Chapter One; The Baseball Game

Jeannie sat on top of the sofa while she continued writing on a piece of paper. That's when suddenly Doctor Bellows walked out of his bedroom wearing his robe. He stopped and turned to look at her and smiled warmly at her. "Oh good morning Jeannie. I'm surprised to see you up and out of your bottle so early in the morning." He told her.

"I know but I had to finish writing this letter to Anthony and Roger Healey. It's all about my new friend Stacey and that we decided to start a woman's softball team. And I'm also putting down that I'm going to start horseback riding lessons." She said as Doctor Bellows nodded at her.

"Ah, I see. Well it is good to see that you're getting involved with some more activities, but don't forget you're nearly two months pregnant and you need your rest as well." He told her.

"Oh, I know that Doctor Bellows." She told him.

"Well now that you're awake would you like some breakfast?" he asked her.

"I'll get something to eat just as soon as I'm finished writing my letter." She told him before she smiled down at her piece of paper and then continued to write.

"Alright, but you're more than welcome to use the typewriter if you want to. It'll go a lot faster." He told her before he turned around and headed towards the dining room. "And speaking of baseball, don't forget about the game that we're going to tonight after dinner." He said before she glanced up at him and shook her head.

"Oh do not worry Doctor Bellows, I won't forget." She assured him before he turned back around and entered the kitchen.

"Wow Jeannie, you certainly are starting to become a natural driver." Mrs. Bellows told her once Jeannie had parked the car in front of the stadium and all three of them started climbing out of it before slamming their doors shut behind them.

"Thank you Mrs. Bellows. I am so excited! I've never been to a baseball game before." Jeannie told her while Doctor Bellows finished making sure that the car was locked before they headed a crossed the parking lot.

"As much as Colonel Nelson is into baseball and football I'm surprised that he hasn't taken you to any of the games before." He told her.

"Oh Anthony doesn't really like crowds too much and that's why we don't go on too many vacations either." She said with a shake of her head.

"Well, you get to come to Vegas with us in a few weeks so you should be very excited about that." Mrs. Bellows told her.

"Oh I am. Like I said I'm very excited about tonight too though. I am very fond of baseball and it is one of the few modern American games that I understand." She said.

"That's interesting. I wonder what sports were like back in good old Baghdad then." Mrs. Bellows said as they walked through the entrance gates.

"Mrs. Bellows if you do not mind I would like to use the ladies room before we sit down. That way I know that I won't have to get up in the middle of the game to go." Jeannie said.

"Of course I don't mind Jeannie, in fact I think that that is a really good idea and I'll go ahead and use it too." Mrs. Bellows told her before they handed a man their tickets and headed towards the restrooms. "Are you coming Alfred?" she asked him.

"Might as well. I'll meet you both at the refreshment stand." He told them before all three of them continued walking towards the restrooms.

Jeannie sat down on the other side of Doctor Bellows and started eating her bag of popcorn. "When is the game going to start?" she wondered.

"It should be any minute now Jeannie. The players are already going out onto the field." Mrs. Bellows told her before she leaned over and took a sip out of her lemonade. "Wow, I really hope that the game goes well. This is the first time that our home team has ever made it into the world series and I think that it would be brilliant if we would get a win." She said as a wide grin stretched a crossed Jeannie's face.

"Do you really mean that?" she questioned her.

"Of course I do, that would just about make my day." Mrs. Bellows told her before Jeannie giggled and blinked her eyes.

"Uh, what was that all about?" Doctor Bellows asked her.

"Oh,.. you'll find out very soon." She told him with another mischievous little giggle.

"And now I want you all to please rise for the singing of our national anthem." The announcer's voice said before everyone rose to their feet. Doctor Bellows, Jeannie, and Amanda also removed their hats along with the rest of the crowd and placed them on top of their chests and over their hearts before the woman that was standing in the center of the field started to sing.

"Oh say can you see, by the dawn's early light. What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming. Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight. Over the rapids we watched were so gallantly streaming? And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air. Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. Oh say does that star-spangled banner yet wave? Over the land of the free, and the home of the brave!" she belted before everybody started to cheer, whistle, and applaud.

"Play ball!" the announcer exclaimed enthusiastically while the excitement and cheers started growing even louder. Then everyone took their seats again before the game begun. "And Kasey Stone of the San Francisco Weasels steps out onto the field getting ready to deliver the first pitch to Andrew Scott of the Coco Beach Sharks!" he cried as everyone on the home team started growing louder with their cheers. "And here comes the first pitch! And boom! It's a homerun for Scott!" the announcer exclaimed while Jeannie applauded and cheered along with everyone else once Andrew's baseball bat swung into the baseball and started to run while everyone else in the outfield dived for the ball.