Chapter six

Mothers. Good mothers. They are generally envisioned as warm-hearted and good-natured souls who affectionately hug their children good night and kiss them lovingly when they awaken. They are the backbone of the nuclear family, having the highest salaried job in which their payment for labour is pure love.

I wish that was the case for my mother.

"Annabelle! Wake up, you lazy bum!" She lovingly yelled as she tenderly throttled me awake.

"No, five more minutes, kay?"I mumbled a little incoherently as I rolled away from her and buried myself into my pillows.

This was nothing new in our household, especially on week days where I would have to wake up at the crack of dawn just to get to school on time. It was routine.

"Okay, Annabelle, you leave me no choice."

The typical threat. I roll over on my back as my mom stomps away—the usual response. I stretch a little, peeling off my socks with my toes before snuggling into a fetal position. Ahh, peace and quite—the usual ending to my mother's post-breakfast routine.

And then...

A SPLASH.

I jerked upwards, falling off my bed at the sudden movement and finding myself sprawled on the cold, wooden floor. At first, I lied there in confusion and stared at my mother, who looked down at me with a bucket in one hand and a triumphant smirk gracing her face. Then it dawned on me. My mother, who was supposed to be kind and warm and loving, just dumped what looked like a whole gallon of water on my head! Freezing cold water, I noted as I felt the hairs on my skin rise.

"At the risk of sounding rude..." I started through clenched teeth, "What the heck, mom?" This was definitely new.

My mother only ignored my irritation and continued to make my bed. "I saw it on an episode of Looney Tunes once," she explained cheerfully. "Since then, I've always wanted to try it."

"Ugh, you are so immature," I grumbled as I stood up and began shedding my drenched clothes. "I bet it's that mid-life crisis that got you to do it."

"Hey! I'm not that old, you know?"

"Tell that to the mirror," I retorted before receiving a light smack to the forehead.

"Be a good daughter, Annabelle. You know I wouldn't have forced you out of bed, but Scotty Smalls is waiting for you downstairs. You should hurry up and get dressed, honey. It's impolite to let guests wait."

I sighed in defeat and stomped to the bathroom, my mood dropping to an even lower degree. Not only did my mother rudely awaken me from a pleasantly peaceful slumber, but I was suddenly reminded of the game against the junior baseball league. Phillips would be there. And Benny. And Emily. What a party! Note the sarcasm...

I followed Smalls as he led me to the L.C. Romney Baseball Park where Phillips' team practiced. The rest of the Sandlot boys were there waiting for Phillips and his team to show up. Emily was there, too, and I prepared myself for whatever impulsive, verbal brawl I had coming my way.

"About time, Anna," Ham said, causing everyone to turn their attention towards me and Smalls. Even Emily didn't bother to hide an ugly glare, whereas Benny only looked at me like I was just another girl. Not one of his buddies.

Emily's bratty attitude, I could take care of. Benny's indifference, however, was a little unbearable. I had to act as if it nothing was going on—as if there were never any uncomfortable feelings between me and him.

God, did I really have so many flaws? Aside from being a total air head when it comes to love, I'm also a bit of a fool in that I use denial as a method for getting rid of all my problems. Granted, I like to think that I'm just very selective about the reality I choose to accept, but that doesn't make it any better, does it?

I stood there with the boys trying to participate in their small talk—anything to distract me from Benny and Emily. Even the sight of Phillips and his team entering the park a moment later was enough to make me feel relieved.

"The scum bags are here," Ham announced, and we all took our stance as the junior baseball league walked towards us. I kept my eye on Phillips—our main opponent—and wondered what these lemmings saw in him. There was nothing scary about him at all.

Intent on showing these guys I was serious and steadfast, I pulled out my mitt and placed it on my hand.

"She plays?" Phillips asked in mixed disbelief and mock humor. It was enough to make my blood boil.

"You got a problem with that?" I asked as coolly as I could.

"Girls don't play," Phillips said with a smirk. "Seriously. What did you do to Benny to get him to let you play?"

"You sexist pig!" I snarled as I threw my mitt down and strode towards him. At first, Phillips took a step back, a little surprised at my outburst. I probably would have tried to break his nose...had Smalls and Benny not held me back. "You think I can't play you? Boy, you don't know what you're getting yourself into!"

"Really?" Philips asked. "Are you willing to put your money where your mouth is?"

"Hah!" Ham laughed. "Annabelle can take you anytime, anywhere." The rest of the sandlot boys cheered in agreement, making me feel as if I wasn't alone. I was glad they finally had my back.

"Alright," Phillips challenged. "If she can't strike me out, you give us the sandlot."

The entire group, even Phillips' team, gasped in shock. Bet the sandlot? That was insane!

"Nu-uh." Ham said. "No freakin' way."

"What's the matter, Porky?" Phillips sneered. "This should be an easy win for you. Unless you were bluffing about this girl being able to take me on?"

Ham was eating his words. I felt slightly guilty that it had to come down to this; especially when Ham and the boys were only defending me.

"Fine." Phillips said with calculating eyes. "I know you can't depend on a girl to save your dumb lot. So let's say...if she can't strike me out, I get to keep her. We need a cheerleader for our team anyway."

"What?" I yelled in disbelief as Phillips sneered at me. "No way!"

"Deal!" Ham said as he shook Phillips' hand. The nerve...how the hell could he pick the sandlot over me—a human being! And without my permission! Oh, I was definitely going to get him back after this.

"Wait!" Squints cried. "What do we get if we win?"

"He has to run around our sandlot cheering us on!" Ham declared. "In a cheerleading uniform!" The rest of the boys laughed at the image in their heads. I probably would have laughed too, had they not bet me!

As the boys began exchanging agreements, I felt my shoulder being harshly spun around. Benny had grabbed me and pulled me to the side.

"Are you stupid?" he asked.

"Excuse me?"

"You wanna be his cheerleader?"

"I didn't volunteer myself, you jerk! If you had been paying attention to the conversation instead of making googly eyes at Emily, you would have known that I had no say in the matter!"

"I wasn't making googly eyes at her," Benny defended himself. "I just don't want you having to stoop down to something so degrading."

I know I probably should have been angry at him for blaming me for the trouble I got myself into, but I couldn't bring myself to feel that way. I felt...smug. He and the boys didn't have anything to lose. Why would he care? Unless he cared for me? The idea made the butterflies in my stomach ripple.

"You don't think I can strike him out? Relax, Benny! We got him! Be happy that we're getting ourselves a new cheerleader!" I smiled at him, trying to lessen him worry, but to no avail. He just sighed before giving me one serious look and turning around towards Emily. Then my heart sank again, and I knew I was being too hopeful.

"Better get that skirt ready for me," Phillips yelled as he and his team walked towards the dugout.

Yeah, I'll get that skirt ready for him alright. I stepped up to the pitcher's mound, warming up the ball in my hand as I waited for Phillips to approach the home plate. He took his sweet time, of course, and I had to bite my tongue from expressing my annoyance. I wouldn't let him know that he was getting to me. I had this. It was an easy win.

Phillips had stepped up to the plate, and I got ready to do my fast ball. It was special to me. I had never come across anyone who could hit it.

I spoke too soon.

Not too long after I pitched that ball, I heard a sharp crack ring through the air, and the ball went soaring over my head.

"Foul ball!" Ham yelled.

My mouth fell open in shock, despite the foul. Phillips had hit the ball! He actually hit my fast ball!

"Ha!" Phillips jeered. "Not as good as I thought."

I prepared myself for a curve ball this time. There was no way in hell he could get lucky twice in a row.

"Strike one!" Ham called, causing Philips to glare at me. I surprised him again by doing another fast ball. This time, he missed.

"Strike two!"

I couldn't help but smile sweetly—my silent way of shoving it in his face.

"Come on Anna! You can strike him out!" I turned around and saw Benny cheering me on. He smiled at me, and I could swear that I was melting. I nodded at him to let him know that I heard him before turning my attention back to Phillips. I felt rejuvenated. Phillips was going down for sure.

I wound up the ball, keep my eye on Phillips concentrated ones, then pitched a knuckle curve. He missed, as expected, and the park erupted in cheers.

"Better get your skirt ready," I said to Phillips as I walked past him. "You're our new cheerleader."

I walked away with my head held high, intent on celebrating with the rest of the team when Phillips spun me around and, in a surprise move, hit me to the ground.

I quickly recovered from my shock and looked up at him. He curled his hand into a fist and retracted his arm, ready to hit me again when, out of nowhere, Benny tackled him to the ground. Needless to say, Benny totally beat the crap out of him. I basically just sat there and sighed like a fool as Benny pummeled Phillips' face. It was the most romantic gesture anyone had done for me. A little violent, but otherwise thrilling.

"Benny, that's enough, man," Smalls said as he tried to help me up. I slapped my silly expression off my face and went back to glaring at Phillips. It was hard to look so serious when I had the sudden urge to laugh at his frightened face.

"You're a coward," I told him as I spat at the floor next to him. "Just accept it. You got beat by a girl."

And with that, we all walked away from Phillips and his team, glad that we had at least won some bragging rights.

"Wait, Anna," I heard Benny call me from behind. I turned around to face him with a smile, wanting to show him just how much I appreciated his rescue.

"Thanks, Benny. I really owe you for what you did for me."

"No, don't say that Anna. I was a total jerk to you. Do you think you can forgive me?"

I smiled even wider, glad that we were finally making amends.

"We'll call it even," I said. "How about we go to the sandlot and play some ball! And this time, try and pass the ball to me." Benny nodded his head, and the two of us began following the boys to the sandlot. I was happy again, and nothing could take that away from me. It didn't even hurt (as much) when Emily hurried over to Benny's arm and clung onto him. I was just that happy.