It was the first day of June and the last day of school in Chippewa Falls.
The sky was covered with gray clouds and the rain came down like pellets.
As Jack and Emily ran they're feet smacked the wet grass.
"Hurry up! We're gonna be late!" Jack called as he sprung himself over the wooden fence with one hand in one swift movement.
"You slow down, damn it, my legs are little than yours!" Emily shouted back, and then slipped through the fence. By now they were closing in on the schoolyard and soaked through to the bone with water and mud.
By the time both Dawsons were in their respective schools they wetter and muddier than all the other children combined. (They purposely took the muddy routes on rainy days.)
"Hey, all." Jack greeted grades 6 through 10 with little wave and ran his fingers through his wet hair.
"Weren't you blonde the last time I saw you?" asked Miss Taylor, his beautiful teacher. This was the last time he'd be in class with her. High school only went up to grade 10 in those days and most farm kids quit after eighth. Jack's parents had already saved for him to attend art school in Eau Claire.
"I dyed it just for you, Miss Taylor." he grinned. The class laughed and clapped.
"Have a seat, Mr. Dawson." she grinned back.
"They love him." Tobey whined to Judy and Milo. "I say something like that people look at me like I'm some sort of derelict."
"I know. I hate charming people, too." Judy stuck out her tongue. Jack took a seat next to his friends.
"She fancies me." he said with British accent and put his hands behind his head. He grinned at Tobey and Milo who rolled their eyes. All the girls thought he was the cutest thing on two legs, Jack, being the most naïve of the foursome, never noticed this-but his friends did. Especially Judy.
Miss Taylor began talking to the class about what a wonderful year it had been and how she'd miss them all over the summer. Then they had crackers and milk while writing thank you letters to the teacher.
After school let out Jack went down to pick up Emily.
"How was the last day?" he crouched down to her level.
"I hate Miss Law."
"What happened?"
"Nothing. Just saying I hate her damn guts and I'm so glad I don't have to see her for the whole summer!" She got up and danced around. It was still raining out so she opened her mouth for a drink. "Ya know I almost told her to stuff it in my letter, but I'm gonna wait till the last day of fifth grade when I won't have her anymore.if I can wait that long." Jack laughed and slapped her on the back.
"C'mon, Em, let's go play rainball with Judy, Milo, and Tobey."
"Rainball?! Woo-hoo!!" 'Rainball' was baseball only it was played in the rain. Emily was especially excited. They didn't always let her join in with the big kids. But Jack thought it was the last day of school and a cause for everyone to celebrate. And besides, you couldn't play rainball everyday.
The five children met up at the field and played a few games of rainball. Seas of mud would shoot through the air as they cut through ground sliding into bases. They played for hours until Dr. Parker found them.
"You crazy guys are late for your suppers!" he called to them while they were having a mud fight. The game had diminished by then.
"Hi, Daddy!" Judy got up to give her father a hug, but stopped short when she remembered how dirty she was.
"It's alright." Her father smiled and opened his arms as she fell into them.
"Hey, Dr. Parker!" shouted the others.
"Judith Abigail, your mother will have a fit.as well as a few other mothers might, too, this evening."
"Actually, our parents just kinda hang their heads and sigh now." Jack shrugged. Dr. Parker chuckled.
"Come on, you silly people." He motioned for them to follow them and the five soaked and muddy children skipped on behind him.
Dr. Parker walked the kids back to their street and they separated off towards their respective homes. As Emily and Jack stepped on to the porch they could hear Mrs. Shaw's distinctive shriek in the distance.
"MILO!!!" Ah, Milo had tracked mud through the house, probably trying to sneak in unnoticed. Peter also heard Mrs. Shaw and knew his son and niece would be arriving soon to track mud through his house, probably from rainball. He was ready for them.
Jack hand reached for the knob and pulled opened the big red door. Before they saw the inside of their house towels were thrown over their heads.
"Beat ya." Peter smiled, though the children didn't see it.
"It's dark." Emily commented. Jack pulled the towel off his head, then off of his cousins.
"Dry off and clean up. Don't go trackin' mud through the house."
Joe ran onto the porch and picked up Emily, rubbing the towel all over her. He turned upside down and she loudly giggled her little girl giggle.
"Don't think your safe." He messed up Jack's hair. Jack laughed and pushed his uncle's hand away.
"What's going on out here?" Maggie and Hannah were standing in the doorway.
"The kids are muddy," Peter said, "rainball?" he asked them.
"Rainball." confirmed Jack and Emily.
"One day, when I'm big, you won't be able to do that anymore." Emily told her father as he put her down.
"What? This?" he picked up his skinny wife and turned upside. She yelped as he ran off the dry porch and into the pouring rain. He dumped her in the mud and the rest of the family ran out with them, screaming and laughing.
Hannah was the last one off the porch, as her foot left the last white step the sun broke through the clouds. She slid to her knees to join her family.
It's funny, those strange images that stuck in one's head. After a time Hannah and Peter were up dancing in the sun shower. Jack remembered sitting near the others, Joe and Maggie sat with Emily on their laps as she tried to mess their hair.
Jack saw only his parents. They were about 15 feet away. They were dancing, there was no music, but it was as if only they could hear in their little world. Jack was usually embarrassed when his parents started to 'get all romantic', but there was something about this little scene. It was beautiful; it felt like home.
He promised himself, that one day, he'd draw that.
***
The summer truly began that following week when Roy Belle popped into the Dawson barn. Peter and Joe were in the cornfields, Hannah was cleaning the house and Maggie was feeding the chickens. Jack and Emily were milking the cows.
"Hey Mrs. D!" Roy waved to Maggie grinning widely.
"Hey there, Roy."
"How are you today?"
"I'm fine. How about you, Belle?"
"Great, Mrs. D. Is Jack home?"
"Yeah, they're in the stable."
"Thanks Mrs. D!" Roy ran inside. Roy was never one of Jack's best friends, but they got along well. He 'always liked that kid'.
Roy looked around, seeing nothing but cows.
"Anyone in here?"
"Just us cows." Jack answered.
"Alright, you cows, what do you say to being apart of the biggest ball game in the history of Chippewa Falls?"
"Moo!" Jack shouted enthusiastically.
"Alright, and what about you Emily?" Roy asked. Emily's eyes shone. This was really her year! After May Day she had earned the respect of most of the older kids. Of course, at this point she didn't know they wanted her to help out-not play.
"Moo, too."
"Jeremy Black's rich cousin Fox from Milwaukee is coming to stay in Chippewa Falls. They say he's the best baseball player in the state of Wisconsin. And we're gonna prove him wrong. We challenged him and a bunch other kids to a game."
"Who's on our team then?" Jack asked.
"Umm.us, Milo Shaw, Tobey Jackson, Jim Keller, Lou Banks, Brent Smith, and if we're really desperate for people, Judy Parker."
"Take Judy, she's a good pitcher."
"If you say so, Dawson." Roy agreed it was a good idea, but was squeamish about telling Lou, Jim, and Brent that they let a girl on the team. "I'll see ya around. If I don't make these deliveries," he held up a basket; his parents ran the general store, "my ma's gonna whip my hide. Oh ya, four o'clock Sunday afternoon when's we meet for practice and to get everything organized."
"Alright then. See ya."
"Bye, Roy!" Emily waved. She turned to Jack. "If they're letting me play, why are they so weird about letting Judy?"
"Em, you can't play. They probably just need someone to help with equipment and be a fan."
"What do you mean I can't play?!"
"You're eight years old. They'll kill you!"
"You lousy bastards! That's not fair!"
"Hey, what did I tell you about talking like that!"
"Where do you think I learned it from!"
"Come to practice on Sunday and we'll talk with everyone else alright? .Alright?"
"I think you're full of shit!"
"Emily!" Emily crawled back behind Bessie the cow and crossed her arms. Jack went back to work milking. He looked up after a minute. "Aintcha gonna do any of your work? Or are ya just gonna sit there and sulk? .Emily?"
"Why don't you tell my mother on me then?"
Jack let out an "Ugh" and went back to work. Stupid brat.
Sunday, 4:00 PM
"What the hell kind of stupid name is Fox?" asked Brent.
"The kind of name Jem Black's aunt and uncle like?" Milo suggested. Everyone else shrugged.
"Listen, Emily," said Jim, "we thought of a great job for you." He looked at Jack who had told him about Emily fussing.
"If it's not centerfield she doesn't wanna hear it." Jack frowned. Emily glared at him.
"Em," she turned back to Jimmy, "how would you like to be coach?
COACH?! Coach the baseball team? Emily's eyes lit up. As far as Jim and Roy worked out she knew a lot about the game and if she gave any stupid child advice or even through a tantrum there wouldn't be much she could do about it if people used their judgment instead of hers.
"Yes! I'll be coach! I know everything there is to know. I'll be the best coach ever! You're a genius, Jimmy." Emily squeaked. She stuck her tongue out at Jack. Jack rolled his eyes.
"Alright, now to figure everything else out, Judy, you pitch?" Lou asked uncertainly.
"Of course." Judy answered as if all girls played ball.
"Then we've got Judy pitching, I'm catching, Jim, you're the only left- hander so you're first base again, Roy, you're second, Tob, you're third, Brent, shortstop, Jack, centerfield, and Milo, you're our all-purpose out- fielder." Lou had worked everything out days earlier.
"I have to be left and right field? That's impossible. Why can't you get somebody else to play one?!"
"'Cause Emily's coaching." said Lou.
"'Cause I'm coaching." said Emily.
Milo groaned, fearing the inevitable. This was going to mean more abuse for Milo Shaw.
They practiced three days a week for a month until it was game time. Milo had a very difficult time playing the entire outfield.
Later that day, Judy's backyard
"You know, I'm not feeling the passion of the poor French." Jack sighed, looking to Judy and Milo.
"That's because you get to be the executioner." Milo whined.
"Would you rather be Louie and Marie Antoinette?" Tobey tried to pull his head up, which was hanging the side of the big gray rock in the field. Emily was next to him, in the same position.
"This is what I get for getting to play with you guys. Marie Fucking Antoinette." Emily stared and the grass, not moving her head.
"Watch your language!" snapped the four big kids in unison, as if on cue. Jack bit his lip, it was his fault she talked like that, but that was the one word they were absolutely on pain of death not allowed to say again.
As usual the game of French Revolution was dispended before they could "behead" anybody.
"Milo, next time you can Napoleon, he's just your shape." Tobey teased.
Milo punched him in the arm.
"Ow! He hit me." He pointed, waiting for Judy to do something about it. Judy hit Tobey in the other arm. He looked to Jack. "Have you no soul, Dawson?" he smiled knowingly; "help me here."
"You know as well as any how I sold it."
"Jack Dawson, did you sell your soul to the devil?" Judy looked him sternly in the eyes.
"No, I sold it to Tobey for a ten cents."
"Oh no, it's worse." She said putting her hand to her forehead
Tobey triumphantly pulled out a piece of paper with the words: "Jack's soul" written on it in Jack's handwriting.
"Do you idiots think that actually works?" Milo asked unheard.
"A dime for your soul, Jack, you'll always be poor." Judy laughed.
"It bought me lunch down at Missy's Café on Main Street."
"You sold your soul for lunch. And you call yourself an artist-not to mention you put it at Tob's disposal." Judy crossed her arms. "Men are solely ruled by their darn appetites."
"Amen to that." The three boys slapped hands. Emily looked worried about Judy's last comment.
"Judy, uh, does that make me a boy?"
***
Time rolled around and the day of the big game finally came. They were ready.
The shabby band of unlikely kids looked at the opposing team: Jem Black and his ever-so-famous cousin Fox Whitmore, Jake Phelps-better known as Casanova Phelps, because the rumor was he had.you know.done.it, Duncan Rawlins, Peewee Simms, Martin Martin, Righty Riggs who was 18 and still in the 9th grade, Mark Twain Gunderson, Fred Dawsen, with an "e", and Job Prince.
"We must be the normal name team." Jim smiled.
"Where also 'the going to get pummeled into the ground' team." Milo sighed.
"You're a pessimist, Mi." Tobey said. "Actually, we're not the normal name team. Because of Tobey we all have stupid nicknames. They've got Job, Fox, and Peewee and what not. We've got The Little Tea Pot and Johnny Shrivel Nuts."
Tobey smiled at his own 'genius'. "Yeah, I'm funny." he chuckled to himself.
"Hey ladies!" Jem called. His cousin leered at the pathetic bunch, but said nothing. "Let's get this ass-whoopin' started, shall we?"
Emily tugged at Jack's shirt. "He said ass." She whispered to him.
"I'm aware."
"I'm not supposed to say ass. How come he gets to say it?"
"You say it anyway and Jem's a fool. Now will you shut up, coach?" Jack walked over with the rest of the big kids to discuss the impending ballgame.
Damn right I'm coach.
After every position was verified and the coin was tossed it was time to play ball.
Save for Milo, whose thoughts dwelled on his imminent death for playing the entire outfield against the toughest kids in town with the best ball player in the state, everyone on the field was absolutely determined. Jem, Fox, and company knew they would win. The other team, composed of our little players that could, had their sights on victory as well, but if they had to go down they would not go down easy.
"Hurry up! We're gonna be late!" Jack called as he sprung himself over the wooden fence with one hand in one swift movement.
"You slow down, damn it, my legs are little than yours!" Emily shouted back, and then slipped through the fence. By now they were closing in on the schoolyard and soaked through to the bone with water and mud.
By the time both Dawsons were in their respective schools they wetter and muddier than all the other children combined. (They purposely took the muddy routes on rainy days.)
"Hey, all." Jack greeted grades 6 through 10 with little wave and ran his fingers through his wet hair.
"Weren't you blonde the last time I saw you?" asked Miss Taylor, his beautiful teacher. This was the last time he'd be in class with her. High school only went up to grade 10 in those days and most farm kids quit after eighth. Jack's parents had already saved for him to attend art school in Eau Claire.
"I dyed it just for you, Miss Taylor." he grinned. The class laughed and clapped.
"Have a seat, Mr. Dawson." she grinned back.
"They love him." Tobey whined to Judy and Milo. "I say something like that people look at me like I'm some sort of derelict."
"I know. I hate charming people, too." Judy stuck out her tongue. Jack took a seat next to his friends.
"She fancies me." he said with British accent and put his hands behind his head. He grinned at Tobey and Milo who rolled their eyes. All the girls thought he was the cutest thing on two legs, Jack, being the most naïve of the foursome, never noticed this-but his friends did. Especially Judy.
Miss Taylor began talking to the class about what a wonderful year it had been and how she'd miss them all over the summer. Then they had crackers and milk while writing thank you letters to the teacher.
After school let out Jack went down to pick up Emily.
"How was the last day?" he crouched down to her level.
"I hate Miss Law."
"What happened?"
"Nothing. Just saying I hate her damn guts and I'm so glad I don't have to see her for the whole summer!" She got up and danced around. It was still raining out so she opened her mouth for a drink. "Ya know I almost told her to stuff it in my letter, but I'm gonna wait till the last day of fifth grade when I won't have her anymore.if I can wait that long." Jack laughed and slapped her on the back.
"C'mon, Em, let's go play rainball with Judy, Milo, and Tobey."
"Rainball?! Woo-hoo!!" 'Rainball' was baseball only it was played in the rain. Emily was especially excited. They didn't always let her join in with the big kids. But Jack thought it was the last day of school and a cause for everyone to celebrate. And besides, you couldn't play rainball everyday.
The five children met up at the field and played a few games of rainball. Seas of mud would shoot through the air as they cut through ground sliding into bases. They played for hours until Dr. Parker found them.
"You crazy guys are late for your suppers!" he called to them while they were having a mud fight. The game had diminished by then.
"Hi, Daddy!" Judy got up to give her father a hug, but stopped short when she remembered how dirty she was.
"It's alright." Her father smiled and opened his arms as she fell into them.
"Hey, Dr. Parker!" shouted the others.
"Judith Abigail, your mother will have a fit.as well as a few other mothers might, too, this evening."
"Actually, our parents just kinda hang their heads and sigh now." Jack shrugged. Dr. Parker chuckled.
"Come on, you silly people." He motioned for them to follow them and the five soaked and muddy children skipped on behind him.
Dr. Parker walked the kids back to their street and they separated off towards their respective homes. As Emily and Jack stepped on to the porch they could hear Mrs. Shaw's distinctive shriek in the distance.
"MILO!!!" Ah, Milo had tracked mud through the house, probably trying to sneak in unnoticed. Peter also heard Mrs. Shaw and knew his son and niece would be arriving soon to track mud through his house, probably from rainball. He was ready for them.
Jack hand reached for the knob and pulled opened the big red door. Before they saw the inside of their house towels were thrown over their heads.
"Beat ya." Peter smiled, though the children didn't see it.
"It's dark." Emily commented. Jack pulled the towel off his head, then off of his cousins.
"Dry off and clean up. Don't go trackin' mud through the house."
Joe ran onto the porch and picked up Emily, rubbing the towel all over her. He turned upside down and she loudly giggled her little girl giggle.
"Don't think your safe." He messed up Jack's hair. Jack laughed and pushed his uncle's hand away.
"What's going on out here?" Maggie and Hannah were standing in the doorway.
"The kids are muddy," Peter said, "rainball?" he asked them.
"Rainball." confirmed Jack and Emily.
"One day, when I'm big, you won't be able to do that anymore." Emily told her father as he put her down.
"What? This?" he picked up his skinny wife and turned upside. She yelped as he ran off the dry porch and into the pouring rain. He dumped her in the mud and the rest of the family ran out with them, screaming and laughing.
Hannah was the last one off the porch, as her foot left the last white step the sun broke through the clouds. She slid to her knees to join her family.
It's funny, those strange images that stuck in one's head. After a time Hannah and Peter were up dancing in the sun shower. Jack remembered sitting near the others, Joe and Maggie sat with Emily on their laps as she tried to mess their hair.
Jack saw only his parents. They were about 15 feet away. They were dancing, there was no music, but it was as if only they could hear in their little world. Jack was usually embarrassed when his parents started to 'get all romantic', but there was something about this little scene. It was beautiful; it felt like home.
He promised himself, that one day, he'd draw that.
***
The summer truly began that following week when Roy Belle popped into the Dawson barn. Peter and Joe were in the cornfields, Hannah was cleaning the house and Maggie was feeding the chickens. Jack and Emily were milking the cows.
"Hey Mrs. D!" Roy waved to Maggie grinning widely.
"Hey there, Roy."
"How are you today?"
"I'm fine. How about you, Belle?"
"Great, Mrs. D. Is Jack home?"
"Yeah, they're in the stable."
"Thanks Mrs. D!" Roy ran inside. Roy was never one of Jack's best friends, but they got along well. He 'always liked that kid'.
Roy looked around, seeing nothing but cows.
"Anyone in here?"
"Just us cows." Jack answered.
"Alright, you cows, what do you say to being apart of the biggest ball game in the history of Chippewa Falls?"
"Moo!" Jack shouted enthusiastically.
"Alright, and what about you Emily?" Roy asked. Emily's eyes shone. This was really her year! After May Day she had earned the respect of most of the older kids. Of course, at this point she didn't know they wanted her to help out-not play.
"Moo, too."
"Jeremy Black's rich cousin Fox from Milwaukee is coming to stay in Chippewa Falls. They say he's the best baseball player in the state of Wisconsin. And we're gonna prove him wrong. We challenged him and a bunch other kids to a game."
"Who's on our team then?" Jack asked.
"Umm.us, Milo Shaw, Tobey Jackson, Jim Keller, Lou Banks, Brent Smith, and if we're really desperate for people, Judy Parker."
"Take Judy, she's a good pitcher."
"If you say so, Dawson." Roy agreed it was a good idea, but was squeamish about telling Lou, Jim, and Brent that they let a girl on the team. "I'll see ya around. If I don't make these deliveries," he held up a basket; his parents ran the general store, "my ma's gonna whip my hide. Oh ya, four o'clock Sunday afternoon when's we meet for practice and to get everything organized."
"Alright then. See ya."
"Bye, Roy!" Emily waved. She turned to Jack. "If they're letting me play, why are they so weird about letting Judy?"
"Em, you can't play. They probably just need someone to help with equipment and be a fan."
"What do you mean I can't play?!"
"You're eight years old. They'll kill you!"
"You lousy bastards! That's not fair!"
"Hey, what did I tell you about talking like that!"
"Where do you think I learned it from!"
"Come to practice on Sunday and we'll talk with everyone else alright? .Alright?"
"I think you're full of shit!"
"Emily!" Emily crawled back behind Bessie the cow and crossed her arms. Jack went back to work milking. He looked up after a minute. "Aintcha gonna do any of your work? Or are ya just gonna sit there and sulk? .Emily?"
"Why don't you tell my mother on me then?"
Jack let out an "Ugh" and went back to work. Stupid brat.
Sunday, 4:00 PM
"What the hell kind of stupid name is Fox?" asked Brent.
"The kind of name Jem Black's aunt and uncle like?" Milo suggested. Everyone else shrugged.
"Listen, Emily," said Jim, "we thought of a great job for you." He looked at Jack who had told him about Emily fussing.
"If it's not centerfield she doesn't wanna hear it." Jack frowned. Emily glared at him.
"Em," she turned back to Jimmy, "how would you like to be coach?
COACH?! Coach the baseball team? Emily's eyes lit up. As far as Jim and Roy worked out she knew a lot about the game and if she gave any stupid child advice or even through a tantrum there wouldn't be much she could do about it if people used their judgment instead of hers.
"Yes! I'll be coach! I know everything there is to know. I'll be the best coach ever! You're a genius, Jimmy." Emily squeaked. She stuck her tongue out at Jack. Jack rolled his eyes.
"Alright, now to figure everything else out, Judy, you pitch?" Lou asked uncertainly.
"Of course." Judy answered as if all girls played ball.
"Then we've got Judy pitching, I'm catching, Jim, you're the only left- hander so you're first base again, Roy, you're second, Tob, you're third, Brent, shortstop, Jack, centerfield, and Milo, you're our all-purpose out- fielder." Lou had worked everything out days earlier.
"I have to be left and right field? That's impossible. Why can't you get somebody else to play one?!"
"'Cause Emily's coaching." said Lou.
"'Cause I'm coaching." said Emily.
Milo groaned, fearing the inevitable. This was going to mean more abuse for Milo Shaw.
They practiced three days a week for a month until it was game time. Milo had a very difficult time playing the entire outfield.
Later that day, Judy's backyard
"You know, I'm not feeling the passion of the poor French." Jack sighed, looking to Judy and Milo.
"That's because you get to be the executioner." Milo whined.
"Would you rather be Louie and Marie Antoinette?" Tobey tried to pull his head up, which was hanging the side of the big gray rock in the field. Emily was next to him, in the same position.
"This is what I get for getting to play with you guys. Marie Fucking Antoinette." Emily stared and the grass, not moving her head.
"Watch your language!" snapped the four big kids in unison, as if on cue. Jack bit his lip, it was his fault she talked like that, but that was the one word they were absolutely on pain of death not allowed to say again.
As usual the game of French Revolution was dispended before they could "behead" anybody.
"Milo, next time you can Napoleon, he's just your shape." Tobey teased.
Milo punched him in the arm.
"Ow! He hit me." He pointed, waiting for Judy to do something about it. Judy hit Tobey in the other arm. He looked to Jack. "Have you no soul, Dawson?" he smiled knowingly; "help me here."
"You know as well as any how I sold it."
"Jack Dawson, did you sell your soul to the devil?" Judy looked him sternly in the eyes.
"No, I sold it to Tobey for a ten cents."
"Oh no, it's worse." She said putting her hand to her forehead
Tobey triumphantly pulled out a piece of paper with the words: "Jack's soul" written on it in Jack's handwriting.
"Do you idiots think that actually works?" Milo asked unheard.
"A dime for your soul, Jack, you'll always be poor." Judy laughed.
"It bought me lunch down at Missy's Café on Main Street."
"You sold your soul for lunch. And you call yourself an artist-not to mention you put it at Tob's disposal." Judy crossed her arms. "Men are solely ruled by their darn appetites."
"Amen to that." The three boys slapped hands. Emily looked worried about Judy's last comment.
"Judy, uh, does that make me a boy?"
***
Time rolled around and the day of the big game finally came. They were ready.
The shabby band of unlikely kids looked at the opposing team: Jem Black and his ever-so-famous cousin Fox Whitmore, Jake Phelps-better known as Casanova Phelps, because the rumor was he had.you know.done.it, Duncan Rawlins, Peewee Simms, Martin Martin, Righty Riggs who was 18 and still in the 9th grade, Mark Twain Gunderson, Fred Dawsen, with an "e", and Job Prince.
"We must be the normal name team." Jim smiled.
"Where also 'the going to get pummeled into the ground' team." Milo sighed.
"You're a pessimist, Mi." Tobey said. "Actually, we're not the normal name team. Because of Tobey we all have stupid nicknames. They've got Job, Fox, and Peewee and what not. We've got The Little Tea Pot and Johnny Shrivel Nuts."
Tobey smiled at his own 'genius'. "Yeah, I'm funny." he chuckled to himself.
"Hey ladies!" Jem called. His cousin leered at the pathetic bunch, but said nothing. "Let's get this ass-whoopin' started, shall we?"
Emily tugged at Jack's shirt. "He said ass." She whispered to him.
"I'm aware."
"I'm not supposed to say ass. How come he gets to say it?"
"You say it anyway and Jem's a fool. Now will you shut up, coach?" Jack walked over with the rest of the big kids to discuss the impending ballgame.
Damn right I'm coach.
After every position was verified and the coin was tossed it was time to play ball.
Save for Milo, whose thoughts dwelled on his imminent death for playing the entire outfield against the toughest kids in town with the best ball player in the state, everyone on the field was absolutely determined. Jem, Fox, and company knew they would win. The other team, composed of our little players that could, had their sights on victory as well, but if they had to go down they would not go down easy.