Sparkplug

Chapter Eight

I paused, and then stood up and said, "let's take a walk outside."

He nodded and got up from his chair. When we were outside, I finally let the question out that I was dying to ask.

"Why aren't there tryouts?" I asked. Was that really the guys' tryouts? It couldn't have been.

"As you said, nobody plays baseball in this town. They haven't done tryouts in this drab town for eight years because people have stopped coming. I know they do for incoming freshmen, but that's about it. And we barely even get freshmen for baseball," Matt said, sighing, "but you have a good chance of being on the team."

"I doubt it. Since when have they let a girl play baseball?" I asked, my cynical attitude with the whole situation getting to me.

"Do you know the story of Jackie Mitchell? She pitched against and struck out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. Doesn't that give you hope that one day you will pitch in a Major League Game?" Matt pressed.

"But what happened to her from there, Matt? Her contract got voided by the commissioner of baseball. He said that baseball was 'too strenuous' for girls. Babe Ruth, the Babe Ruth, even denounced girls after the game saying that girls in baseball wouldn't last because we're too delicate. That is what doesn't give me hope; knowing that I can try as hard as I can and be the best out there, but as long as girls are banned from baseball I'm getting nowhere." I said, my voice wavering.

"Will you be content with that?" Matt said, facing me. He pointed a finger at me and practically yelled, "you have to be so great that they won't deny you. It's not about only you; it's about that little girl whose playing baseball with her friends. She wants a fair shot, too."

"No, I won't be. But I have to see what happens, if I'm even on the team before I worry about that," I said, hopefully letting the subject drop. This shouldn't be about me; it should be about Ryan and all the guys.

The sun had set about two hours ago, and it was now starting to drizzle. The temperature was dropping to temperatures usually reserved for winter.

"Let's go inside, it's as cold as fall now," Matt said, holding his arms against his body as he shivered. I chuckled at the sight of this tough-as-nails guy shivering and we walked back inside.

Inside, everyone was pushing in their chairs and leaving. Mike was yet again talking to Abigail. I rolled my eyes as I saw it. But then I realized that Mike was actually being nice for his standards.

"Those lovebirds have been talking for twenty minutes," Noah groaned, "I need to get home and sleep or you guys won't want to be near me tomorrow."

I only laughed and said, "I'll go get Mike."

When I walked over, Abigail had told Mike, "I have to go, Mike. I need to get back to work."

"Ok," he said, sighing dramatically.

"Bye," Abigail said, smiling slightly as she disappeared to another table.

Mike gave her a look, and I realized that he, the flirt, actually liked Abigail.

When we were walking out, he had stayed behind the others and I found the opportunity to ask him if he was.

"It's so obvious that you like her, Mike." I said, waiting for his reaction. He blushed and lightly punched me on the shoulder.

"Don't tell the others," he said, his voice low, "they'll think I've gone crazy."

I gave him a slight laugh and replied, "I won't, but why do you like her?"

She was a nice girl and Mike always seemed to be talking to girls who were... different.

He took a deep breath, and I waited patiently as he thought.

"It's hard to explain. She's so genuine; I don't know how you couldn't like her. Her eyes are warm and inviting just like her. I swear she's nice to everyone. I don't even know how to explain it," Mike said, looking down and blushing yet again.

"You're in love." I said, smiling at how soft he's gotten when he admitted that he likes Abigail.

"Maybe," he said, "I don't know yet."

"You need to ask her to prom then!" I said, getting really excited at the fact that one of the guys will need girl advice.

"Calm down, school hasn't even started yet," he said, getting into his car. I went in the direction of Ryan's car, "geez, I swear you like her more than I do!"

I raised an eyebrow, and got into the car with Ryan. Zac and Adam were already in it, Adam taking shotgun.

The ride home was silent until Ryan asked everyone, "do you think we'll be considered for the team by our performance?"

"We did good, definitely better than the Stalls," Adam said thoughtfully, "some of us could make it, especially you and Mel."

I didn't say anything; if I did, I would break down and tell him how much of a lie that is that I would make a high school baseball team.

I was quiet until Ryan dropped Adam off at his house.

We said goodbye to Adam and drove back to our street, which was only one over from Adam's.

When I got home, I immediately changed clothes and went to bed. When I did, I realized how important that game really was. The reality of it had caught up to me, and the realization sunk deep into my stomach. Had I pitched good enough to make it? Everyone is telling me I did. Would they take me if I was a girl? It sounded like they would. Would the guys make it?

I opened my eyes, barely able to see in the darkness of my bedroom. That was the question that was churning in my stomach. I was still thinking about it as I drifted off into a hopeless sleep.

~*~

Ed Myzak sat in his study, the small desk lamp the only thing illuminating the room filled with books.

He sat with two things on his lap; a biography about Jackie Mitchell and the new lineup for the Stillwater Stallions. In many ways, Mel and Jackie's case are the same. Jackie had broken the gender barrier in the Majors, and Mel in high school would have to break the gender barrier-that seemingly universal thought that baseball was meant for men and softball was meant for women.

Was he willing to put Mel Bailey through the harassment and torment she was sure to get? He could only imagine what the girls and guys alike would say about a girl being on a baseball team.

But, he remembered what she had done when Carson had taunted her; she took that anger and channeled it into her playing. He understood that she would do anything for this sport, maybe even deal with unjustified taunting.

But, was it really worth it all? Was it really worth putting somebody through all of this just to make a point?

The choice had been made long ago.  Ed took a deep sigh, and turned off the lamp in his study.