(Several Days Later, Brooklyn, New York)
Steve and Bucky became schoolmates and best friends which they both enjoyed each other's company. They went to school together and returned home. The young blonde crippled boy was never alone and bullied since he met his new friend on the streets. Before, he was all alone with his room every weekend and watching the other children playing from his window. Now, he enjoyed his time talking and playing with Bucky.
Just this weekend, Bucky and Steve were on the alley planning to play baseball. The young blonde boy was still holding his wood crutches and sketchbook as he was feeling hesitant to play with him. The young brunette boy held his wooden baseball bat, gloves, and a white rubber ball and looked concerned at his best friend. Steve was sitting on the ground and doodling at his sketchpad.
" Steve, it's time to play ball! " Bucky called him. " Come on, I've been planning this to happen! "
" Buck, I can't run and jump, okay? " his friend sighed. " I've already told you I had Polio. "
" Yeah, I forgot. Sorry, " he put down his belongings and scratched his head using his right hand and raising his left hand in interjection. " But can you just try to play once in your life? "
" I want to... but..."
" Come on, I don't want you to miss out in playing and in action! "
Steve heavily sighed as Bucky assisted him to stand up. The blonde boy felt nervous and wryly smiled at his friend. This was his first time to play outdoors. Bucky gave him a convincing look, wore his gloves, and held a ball.
" Are we gonna play catch or baseball? " he asked.
" We'll start playing catch, " the brunette boy confidently answered and made the ball lift above his hand. " So, are you ready? "
" I don't know...Buck...I don't know..."
" You can do it, Steve! " he grinned and instantly threw the ball to his friend.
Steve was supposed to catch it, but he failed in getting it. The ball ended up rolling on the ground. Since he was still holding his crutches. Bucky sighed, took the ball, and gave it to his friend.
" Look, I'm sorry. I can't do it..." Steve sadly spoke.
" No, you don't need to be sorry, " he slightly smiled. " Now, you throw it back to me. Okay? "
" Okay..." the crippled boy threw the ball to Bucky when he instantly caught it.
" Remember, this is just a practice to move your body, " his friend reminded. " Now, let's do that again. You need to focus in getting the ball. "
" Okay, I'll try..."
Bucky threw the ball for the second time, but Steve was still missing it. Struggling to reach the ball. They repeated several times to let the blonde boy in getting it. Steve became more frustrated than ever as he failed.
" Bucky, it's hopeless, I quit, " he spoke and lowered his head in shame. " Paul's right. I'm a wimp! I can't do it right, because I'm crippled! This is wasting our time. "
" Hey, you can't quit like that, " Bucky said. " That's why you're being bullied before. It doesn't matter if you're crippled. You have to move and fight back! Don't give up like that! Come on, Punk! You can do it! "
Steve doubtfully raised his eyebrows and found it impossible to catch a ball. He was still holding both crutches and thinking how he could receive it. Bucky crossed his arms and waited for a such time for him to respond. Finally, Steve thought of putting down his right wooden crutch, so he could reach the ball using his right hand.
" Steve? Are we gonna play or what? "
" I'm gonna to reach the ball with my right hand, " Steve answered.
" But how about your right crutch? "
" I still have the other one on my left. Now, throw the ball to me! "
" Okay, if this is what you want, then! "
Bucky held the ball and instantly released it to the air when Steve focused himself and moved his right arm forward. Finally, he was able to get the ball, but he fell down on the ground.
" Ow! " he cried.
" Steve, I'm sorry..." Bucky sighed and assisted his friend to stand up.
" Hah, I did it, Dork! " he happily beamed and raised his right arm, still holding the ball. " Definitely, I can do this all day! "
" Yeah, I knew you can! Now, throw the ball to me! Let's try again! "
Steve threw the ball to Bucky as the brunette boy instantly grabbed it. They both repeated the same throwing and receiving the ball, even the Steve got fell without his other wooden crutches. Finally, it reached almost sunset when the two boys had their snacks at Mrs. Rogers' place.
" So, you boys have been playing catch and throw the ball? " Sarah asked.
" Yeah, it was fun, Mom! " Steve smiled and finished eating his sandwich. " Bucky taught me how to catch the ball and throw it to him. "
" If you're not crippled, you could have been a good baseball player! " his friend commented and drank his lemonade.
" Thanks to you, Dork. You helped me fulfilled my dream in playing outside the apartment. "
" What do you mean? " he asked.
" Mom and Dad never allowed me to play outdoors because of my condition. Before I got to normal school, my Mom used to teach me how to read and write. "
" Oh, is that true? " Bucky turned to his friend's mother.
" Yes, Steve was born with Poliomyelitis. He got paralyzed at an early age, " Mrs. Rogers answered. " That's why he couldn't walk normally. Everytime he looked at the window, Steve felt sad to see the other youngsters running and playing around. "'
" I see, then. When did he start going to school? "
" He was nine years old when he went to school. "
" That was two years ago after my dad died of sickness, " Steve sadly sighed and looked at the sepia image of his father inside the picture frame.
Bucky looked closely at the blonde strong man in the picture. Joseph Rogers was a US Army lieutenant serving in Europe back in World War I. He sadly turned to the widow and the crippled boy.
" He was a good man, wasn't he? " the brunette boy asked.
" Yes, he was, " Mrs. Rogers nodded and slightly smiled with a hint of sadness in her eyes. Steve also lowered down his head.
" I'm sorry for your loss, Mrs. Rogers, Steve. "
" It's all right. He will be missed. "
" Yeah, " Steve added. " Thanks for reminding him, Bucky. "
" Are you going to be like him when you're older? "
" I don't know, Buck. I wanted to be a comic book artist when I grow up. Then, I could help my mom. How can I be soldier like him since I'm paralyzed?! "
" Oh, yeah. I'm glad you guys are still together, " he replied and sadly sighed. " But my parents... I don't know. I'm still living with my grandparents. "
" You're still cool, Bucky. Thanks for helping my dream come true. "
" What do you mean? " he curiously raised his eyebrows and asked.
" I really wanted to play outdoors! I have never done that before! All I did was sketching, doodling, and reading some books! "
" Heh, that's nothing, Punk! " Bucky messed up his friend's golden locks as Mrs. Rogers laughed at them.
" Stop messing, my hair, Dork! " Steve raised his voice and got annoyed.
" What's the matter? Never tried it before. "
" Oh, come on! "
" You had never gone outdoors! Why don't you come with me next time?! "
" Fine, I'll come with you every weekends. "
" Sounds cool! "