Summer of 1964
By Spice-Autumn
Summary: Maybe nothing could compare to that one summer where Benny pickled the beast. But this vary summer came in second and changed the game of baseball for Benny and the sandlot gang.
Chapter 2: Learning to Catch
The temperatures began to raise high in the valley. Sandy stood in her new position on center field and used her left hand as a cover to shade her eyes from the beaming sun. The summer's heat was scorching hot and she didn't understand how the boys could play at such high temperatures without passing out due to heat stroke. But little did she know that these boys could play through a storm, rain, or hail.
Benny swung his baseball bat and a hard smack was heard when the bat strike the ball. The baseball flew high in midair. The boys watched as it flew passed them. Sandy watch as the ball was coming towards her and stuck her glove high in the air as she ran then jumped to catch the baseball which landed in the palm of her baseball mitt.
"Nice!" Ham said in awe.
Benny smiled and nodded his in agreement to Ham's statement. Sandy threw the ball towards third base where Yeah-Yeah was positioned. Yeah-Yeah caught the ball then threw it to DeNunez who stood at his usual spot at the pitcher's mound and threw the ball back to Benny.
"She's game." DeNunez smiled. "Who would have known that a girl could play ball good."
Elaine stood in her position as second base and looked over at her best friend in center field giving her a smile and a thumbs-up.
The gang gathered under the covered bench to drink some cool sodas. Sandy and Elaine sat together since the boys were talking amongst themselves. Elaine began to pull her back into a high ponytail and Sandy drank her ice-cold soda.
"I don't get it," Elaine began. "How do you catch the ball so well?"
Sandy raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?" she asked after gulping down some of her soda.
"You saw me earlier, Sandy. I can't catch for nothing…" Elaine whimpered.
Sandy sighed softly and put her hand on Elaine's shoulder. "It's not hard, really. You just need to have fun and not think so much—that's your problem." She assured her friend.
Smalls was sitting the closes where the girls sat and overheard their conversation. Sandy had given Elaine the same advice Benny had given him the very first time he learned to catch and throw a baseball.
"She's right, you know," Smalls interrupted the girls and began to laugh nervously. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to butt in your guy's—I mean girls—conversation!"
Sandy and Elaine began to giggle as Smalls cheek's blushed slightly in embarrassment and felt like a complete goofus.
"Aww is Smalls having fun girl talking with the ladies?" Ham teased while making faces at Smalls who just looked away feeling more embarrassed.
Sandy shook her head and laughed. "Lay off 'em, Ham. We were talking about baseball not having a girly conversation."
Ham's eyebrows rose in curiosity and the rest of the gang laid their attention towards the girls.
"Oh really? What about baseball?"
"Sandy was just giving me advice on how to catch the ball." Elaine explained to the chubby boy.
Benny who had been standing up instead of sitting down – walked over to Sandy and Elaine. He had a ball in hand with him and stood right in front of Elaine who looked up at him.
"I'll teach you how catch, come on." He advised the girl.
Elaine looked over at Sandy unsurely but her best friend only told her to go on and learn. Sandy sat back with the rest of the boy and watched as Benny taught Elaine how to catch a baseball.
"I'm going to give you a bit of advice here," Benny began to instruct to Elaine. "Keep your eye on the ball at all times. You also want to move wherever the ball goes and keep your glove high in the air—and just have don't think too much. Got it?"
Elaine simply nodded letting Benny know she understood the advice he had given her. Benny picked up a bat and still had a ball in hand. He ran to a good enough distance and got ready to hit the ball without any warning. The ball was hit and Elaine watched the ball as it flew towards her. She felt her knees feeling weak since she was more worried about the ball hitting her in the head than worrying about actually catching it. As the ball was about to land and Elaine shrieked and stepped away as the baseball landed in the grass.
All the boys except for Benny and Smalls – Sandy shot a glare at the laughing boys and soon they all stopped laughing. Smalls got up and ran towards Elaine who had her head down in shame and embarrassment.
"Let me see the glove so I can show you how to catch." Smalls spoke softly.
Elaine looked at him with astonished eyes and handed Smalls her glove. Smalls picked up the ball that lay in the grass and threw it back to Benny who caught it quickly.
"You guys make it seem it's so easy…" Elaine uttered in a hushed tone.
"That's because it is easy," Smalls smiled sweetly assuring the girl. "Two summers ago—I wasn't able to catch a baseball not even throw one without looking like a complete dork," He laughed then continued. "Benny took me under his wing and showed me how catch and throw. The advice Sandy gave you earlier was the same advice Benny gave me that's what helped me and I was able to catch the ball easily. Like they both said – stop thinking and just have fun – and you'll be able to catch that ball."
Elaine just starred at Smalls speechless but smiled as her eyes looked at him warmly.
"Just watch my hand and see how easily I catch the ball." He explained.
Smalls looked straight over at Benny and nodded his head that he's ready. Benny threw the ball up and strikes it hard with the baseball bat. The ball flew and Smalls watched it closely and stuck his glove high and caught it then threw it back to Benny.
"See how easy it is?" Smalls smiled at Elaine who smiled back and nodded.
"Here," He gave Elaine her glove back. "Now you try."
Elaine just grinned and nodded feeling more confident than she did before. She got into position and nodded her head at Benny who got ready to hit the ball once more. The ball was hit once again and Elaine stuck her glove high in the air and caught it for the first time. The grin on her lips grew bigger and she jumped with joy.
"Woo-hoo!" Sandy cheered her best friend on.
Elaine threw the ball back at Benny who smiled as he caught it. She turned to Smalls who raise his hand to give her a high five but instead Elaine hugged him. Smalls was startled because he was being hugged by a girl and he has never this close to girl before—except for his mother—but that doesn't count.
"Thank you for helping me, Smalls!" Elaine expressed her gratitude to the boy.
"Uh… Yeah, no problem." Smalls accepted her gratitude still startled by Elaine hugging him.
Elaine ran towards Sandy and they two friends high fived each other and talked about Elaine's success of learning how to catch.
"You okay, man?" Benny asked Smalls as he put his hand on the boys shoulder.
Smalls turned to Benny with a dazed look on his face. "She hugged me…"
"Yeah," Benny shrugged. "What about it, man? I mean it's no big deal it was just a hug."
"I just… I… I never had been that close to a girl before." Smalls revealed.
Benny just shook his head and laughed. "So I'm guessing you have never kissed a girl either, right Smalls?"
Smalls lowered his head and Benny's eyes grew big. "You've never kissed a girl?"
"If I never been close to one – what makes you think I ever kissed one before?" Smalls mumbled. "Benny, have you ever kissed a girl before?"
Benny just nodded casually and cool. "Yeah, man. I kissed a girl in elementary school. But it doesn't compare to Squints kissing Wendy Peffercorn—I don't think no one's first kiss can compare to that honestly."
Smalls sighed and put his head back down. Just about every one of the guys has kissed a girl except him. He truly felt like the biggest geek out of every one in the gang.
"Please don't tell any of the guys, Benny." Smalls pleaded in secrecy.
"Don't sweat it, man. I won't tell anyone." Benny vowed to keep Smalls secret. "Come on, man, let's head back with everyone."
Both boys walked towards the rest of the gang who were still seated under the covered bench.
Disclaimer: I do not own any related to the movie all rights go to David M. Evans. I only own original characters I made up.