Disclaimer: I do not own the Sandlot characters, but I do own my own character, Tiffany "Tease" Addams.
Memo: I want to give a -big- thank you to all the readers that have reviewed/read the first chapter. It's certainly appreciated and it's keeping me motivated to continue on and high hopes to complete the story, seeing as there is few Sandlot stories out there. Here's chapter II. So, enjoy! :D
Sandlot Summer Adventure
"Careful on the road now; there's some reckless drivers out there, it's awful really." My aunt warned my father and mother as we now all stood outside, again. It was getting dark now, and my parents were saying they're farewells.
"Don't worry; we're not going to be in a rush to get home." My father said as he took out the car keys from his pocket.
'Course you're not, you'll be regretting ever leaving me here and going back to an empty house. Jerks.' I thought as I kicked a pebble out of my way.
"Now Tiffany, be a good girl. I'm sure you're going to have fun here." My mother spoke to me in that disgustingly sweet voice she could muster.
"Don't worry mummy. I'm going to have a blast, I know I am." I smiled up at her.
She gave me the eye before she made a quick recovery with a smile and hug. My father then ruffled my hair before hugging me and whispering almost the same thing my mother did. The four of us stood by the porch as my parents got into the car. My father started the engine and a minute later, he was pulling out the driveway. Before they pulled out completely, I placed my hands on the sides of my mouth and shouted, "I don't want a sibling, use protection!"
Boy, aren't I a stinker?
My father waved before driving away, and behind me, my aunt and uncle stood with unsure smiles on their faces before waking into the house. I turned to look at Scotty and saw him shaking his head as he smiled up at me. I shrugged before going in.
---
The following morning, I was lying there in bed. I couldn't sleep much. Not because I miss my home, or my bed, well maybe my bed. Come on, it's my own bed. But, anyways, I was up thinking of all the things I could've been doing at that very moment. The lovely things my parentals took away by dumping me off in this slum. Sighing and getting out of bed, I grabbed a towel and walked into the bathroom for a refreshing shower.
"Good morning, Tiffany. Sleep well?" My aunt asked once I walked into the kitchen.
I smiled at her and nodded. "Indeed, I did." Bunch of bologna. "Thanks for letting me stay."
"It's a pleasure sweetie. Your mother has told me on the phone last week how much you wanted to come to the family here and visit old friends." She placed a plate with pancakes and cut bananas.
I wanted to come and visit? Hardly! "Oh yeah, it's been a while. And you know it feels nice being in another area another than one's own." I smiled as I poured syrup on my pancakes.
Breakfast was alright, okay, okay, it was better than alright. Felt nice to sit at the table and converse with a person and know it's not going to end up in an argument. After breakfast, I had gone back towards the other end of the house to unpack and arrange the room to my liking, in a way. I didn't get there right away.
"Nice room you got going here, Bill." I told my step uncle as I leaned on the doorframe.
"Oh, yeah; got all sorts of things around here. Come in and look around." He placed his newspaper down, from which he was reading the highlights of yesterday's game.
I walked in and took a look at all the prized possessions my uncle held. I looked at the baseballs that sat somewhat high on the shelf. One; sighed by the 1927 Yankees and the other; signed by Babe Ruth. I smiled as I looked at the Babe Ruth one; all dirty and torn up. I remember the story Scotty had told me. About how they tried outsmarting the "Beast" and how Benny got his reputation known around town.
"Didn't you have a collection going of your own?" Bill asked.
"Collection? If that's what you want to call it." She frowned.
"Not a lot?" He asked and I shook my head. "Don't worry kiddo; you'll get to where you want to be."
"Someday." I smiled and looked around a last time before heading towards the door. "See you around uncle; have to tidy up my room." I felt odd saying, 'my room' in a house that I didn't live in what-so-ever. I marched down the hall and towards 'my room'.
It took me a good three hours to get things rearranged somewhat to my liking. I sighed and threw myself on the bed, facing up towards the ceiling. As I lay there, motionless, I felt the heat of the valley slowly crawl over my body and envelope me like it was a blanket. Immediately, I got up and fan myself a little before going to the kitchen. I went to the freezer, in hopes in finding an ice treat, no dice. I took a look in the fridge and found no pop, at least not the pop I enjoy. Groaning, I went back to my room and grabbed a few cents and knocked on my aunt's door.
"Come in." I heard from the inside.
"Hey, I'm going down to Vincent's Drug Store, care for anything?" I asked my aunt as I jammed my left hand into my back pocket.
"Not at the moment, thank you." She smiled at me as she continued to tidy up her closet.
I nodded and turned to leave. "Be back in a few, I'll most likely take a walk after."
I walked out of the house and shaded my eyes for a moment as I surveyed the neighborhood. It was pretty neat, I have to admit. I walked down across the lawn and toward the streets, reminiscing the last time I stayed here. I remember my way around, not a pro, but close enough to make people think I actually live around here.
Vincent's Drug Store looked the same as it ever did. I walked in, and was grateful the heat was drowned out by the air conditioner they had on. Going to the back, I picked up a bottle of my favorite lemon-lime pop. I went up to the cashier and pulled out a couple cents to pay for the drink. Thanking the man, I popped open my pop and walked back out into the heat. I stood in front of the drug store for a few minutes as I sipped on my pop when I spotted Michael Palledorous and Alan McClennan walking this way.
"Well if it isn't Squints and Yeah-Yeah!" I called out.
"Tiffany Tease!" Yeah-Yeah grinned back as I rolled my eyes.
"I had forgotten about that, really." I shook my head and embraced the two boys. "Thought you boys would've been down at the sandlot by now?"
"Benny hit a homerun, costing us the ball we had. We're gonna buy a new one." Squints answered as he pushed up his glasses.
"The jet." I rolled my eyes before taking another swig of my pop.
"You should come watch us play." Yeah-Yeah suggested as I walked back into the drug store with them.
"Watch? You can't be serious?" I groaned. So it begins. "Just cause I'm a girl, it doesn't mean I can't play. I have just as good a swing as Benny, or any of you two dummies." I frowned.
"It's not what the other guys said." Yeah-Yeah recalled as he purchased the ball.
"You guys are a bunch of jerks." I narrowed my eyes and walked out of the store and out towards the street. I began walking as my mind cluttered around the last time I tried to play.
-
"Hey guys, you remember my cousin Tiffany." Scotty said as he placed his glove on as the other boys greeted my back and/or mouths gaped and wide eyes.
"She's a girl!" Ham has said as he rubbed his eyes, as if try to make sure I wasn't just an illusion.
"Course I'm a girl. I was a girl the last time I came too." I mumbled as I felt truly out of place with the sun dress I was wearing. I was practically forced to by my mother. The aunt, the mother and I just came back from a tea party. The annual tea party; blah!
"She's going to be our cheerleader?" The colored boy, Kenny DeNunez, joked. All the other boys laughed. Have to admit, I even cracked a smile.
"No, I came here to play, so pitch me the ball boy." I said as I snatched the bat out of Benny's grasped. Kenny shook his head and sat down on the bench. "You can't be serious?" I asked looking at each one.
"We don't want you to hurt yourself." Benny said, reaching out for the bat; I pulled it away.
"You guys are being unfair." I narrowed my eyes. "Let's play, I'm just as good as you guys." I argued.
"Don't start whining if you break a nail then." Benny sighed as he nodded to the rest of the players. I glared at his back when he started walking away. Everyone went to their positions as I started for the home plate. I had a gut feeling; I was going to end up throwing this bat at someone.
"Let's play some ball!" Ham shouted as he pulled the catchers mask on. I saw Kenny nod, and then, I've could've screamed when I saw the pitch. He wasn't throwing it like a baseball player would, but how a weak softball girl would. I refused to hit the ball and saw it roll by my sneaker clad foot and into Ham's glove. "Come on Addams, stop being a tease to the ball and smack it." Ham mumbled as he threw the ball back at Kenny.
I patted the base with the tip of the bat and got in position again. Kenny shook his head and threw the ball again. Again, it was with that weak softball girl throw, but it seemed to have more speed to it. I narrowed my eyes because he was doing this on purpose, but instead feeding to the situation even more, I swung and made contact with the ball. It flew past Kenny and past the second baseman and rolled and stopped mid-field. I smirked but then frowned when I saw no moment what-so-ever on the field. They were going to let me run without even trying to get me out. This wasn't a game at all. I turned to look at Benny who was standing aside.
"What the hell are you playing at?" I spat.
"What do you mean? Go, go! You hit the ball, now you have to run to the bases you know? It's part of the game" He smiled. Boy, how I wanted to smack that smile off his face.
"What game? You guys are just letting me walk it without even trying to let me play. Screw you guys." You know how I previously said I had a gut feeling I was going to end up throwing the bat at someone? Well, that someone turned out to be Benny.
"Get out of here!" He screamed out when he dodged my throw. I huffed and started walking away.
-
I shook my head and came back to focus. I knew my legs were leading me somewhere, but I didn't know where exactly. Taking a swig of the remaining droplets of pop I had, I realized a little too late where I ended up. I dropped the empty bottle of pop and groaned when everyone's attention turn towards me.
"Tiffany, what do you think you're doing here?" Benny spoke up.
My, isn't this just peachy?