"Want to go out for a catch, Andy?" her dad asked, tossing a baseball up and down. Andrea's dad was the one who got her into baseball ever since she was old enough to old one. He was the famous Dougie Smith who played for the LA Dodgers back in the day, and hoped to pass on his love to his kid. Of course, baseball was in Andrea's blood, and she was a natural.
"Yeah, dad, one second," she called, running up to her room to pull her long hair into a ponytail. She slipped it all under her favorite baseball cap and pulled on an athletic tank top, perfect for absorbing sweat while she played. After pulling on a Dodger's jersey and shorts, she ran out with her glove to play with her father.
"So, made any new friends?" he asked, throwing the ball into her mitt from across the backyard.
"Well, besides Scotty, I met all his friends on his baseball team and they're all pretty nice," she answered, throwing the baseball back with startling accuracy. He chuckled as he massaged his hand before throwing it back.
"Geez, Andy, you're getting faster!"
She smiled and continued to throw the ball back and forth.
It was two weeks into the summer and it wasn't all as bad as she made it out to be. Sure it got pretty hot sometimes, but that could be easily managed with a hairband and an electric fan. She and the Sandlot boys got along great, and they took her with them whenever they went to Vincent's Drugstore or to the diner. Her and Benny got closer as well, and she couldn't help but start to grow fond of him.
She never went with them to the Sandlot though, much to Benny's discontent. It just hurt too much knowing she had to simply watch them do what she's wanted to do all summer. They hadn't figured out her love for baseball yet.
"Hon, I have to go finish this project for work alright? Why don't you take some of the baseballs in the garage and throw around at that field down the street?" her father began walking back to the house. Of course, he was referring to the Sandlot, and Andrea wasn't sure what to do.
She crept around the house, looking down the street and saw the backs of the Sandlot boys making their way into town. It was a little late in the day, so maybe they stopped playing early to eat at the diner or something.
"This is my chance," she realized. She sprinted into the garage, pulling out a small bucket of baseballs and her glove and wooden bat. It was her father's, signed by all the Dodgers on his team way back when.
She looked up the street once more just in case before jogging toward the Sandlot, her glove already on her hand.
"You guys, it's still light out, wanna play a little longer?" Benny suggested, sipping from his can of cola. He ran a hand through his dark hair, looking around at the setting sun. Yeah, they could squeeze in another half hour.
"Yeah, yeah, I don't gotta be home for another forty five minutes anyways."
"Sure!" Kenny agreed. They jogged toward their precious Sandlot, hurrying to save up as much time of baseball as they could.
What they didn't expect was to see another person there.
"What the hell gives them the right to play on our field?" Ham nearly exploded, his face bright enough to rival his hair.
"Yeah, yeah, I bet Philips sent someone to trash our field!" Yeah Yeah shook his head in anger.
They were about to storm up to the intruder when Benny suddenly stopped them, pulling them into the shadows along the side of the dugout.
"Benny-boy, what are you doing? That kid is using up our playing time! Let's get 'im!" Squints pounded his fists together, trying to look tough.
Benny's hazel eyes surveyed the stranger's actions carefully. He didn't seem to be a problem, just throwing a bunch of balls as hard as he could at the backdrop of the fence. Wait…holy shit!
"Guys! Look at what he's throwing at!" Benny tapped on Small's shoulder, excitedly, his eyes wide in awe. The boy was throwing his baseballs as a bucket he hung up on the fence, the balls getting the center every single time. He might have been a better thrower than Kenny, seeing his speed and accuracy.
"Okay, that's freakin' cool and all," Squints muttered, "but we can't have strangers all over our field. Come on Benny!"
"Alright," Benny breathed. "Let's talk to him."
Ham hurriedly ran ahead, intent on telling off the strangers. The rest of them followed.
"Hey, you!" Ham bellowed, pointing a pudgy finger at the boy with the Dodgers jersey on.
'Cool, he likes the Dodgers,' Benny thought absentmindedly.
The boy dropped the ball he was about to throw and turned around in surprise.
"Oh, shit," he murmured, looking down to avoid our eyes.
Why does this kid look so familiar?
"Yeah yeah, 'Oh shit'. What are you doing on our field?" Yeah Yeah crossed his arms, his blue-gray eyes narrowed challengingly.
"Just throwing around," he tossed the baseball he was holding up and down casually, as if he wasn't pissing off a bunch of boys. Benny honestly didn't mind very much, but his boys obviously did, so he respected their wishes.
"Sorry, man, but is it okay if we just play for now? We don't really like strangers playing on it," Benny attempted to be as nice as possible.
"Don't play nice, Benny-boy!" Squints shook his head. "Tell off this panty-waisted wussie and make him get out of our field!"
"Panty-waisted, seriously Squints?" the boy shook his head with a teasing smile.
"How do you know my name?" he demanded, stepping closer. He took a step back, trying to shield his face.
"Do I know you?" Benny wondered, trying to figure out where he's seen hat teasing smile before. He cocked his head, searching his mind for possible people from his school that he could remember having an interest and skill in baseball. None came to mind.
"Uh, nope," he answered, shaking his head. His cap came a bit loose, and a strand of hair fell out of it. No one seemed to notice but Benny.
'Who the hell is this person?' he wondered to himself.
"Listen, dirt-licker, just get off our field and we'll have no trouble," Ham crossed his arms, lifting a challenging eyebrow.
"Fine, fine, whatever," the boy began picking up his things, packing up to leave.
"That's right. I knew he wasn't a real man," Ham chuckled toward us, smiling triumphantly.
"A real man? Really?" the boy suddenly stood up, an angry aura to him. He suddenly sighed, giving Benny a strange look he couldn't decipher, before slipping off his Dodger's jersey.
"What the hell?" Squints cleaned his glasses and peered at the boy. Well, not a boy.
It was obvious by the feminine curves adorning her torso.
She slipped off her hat and familiar blonde hair tumbled down her back. She shook it out and grinned at them nervously.
"Hey guys," she waved a few fingers.
"Andrea?!" half of them shouted in surprise.