In the summer of 1967, Douglas and Cynthia Martin
left there hot stuffy apartment and walked over to the Linda Vista Recreation Center. They were caring a soft ball, a bat, and a glove.
“Doug, do you think we’ll find anyone baseball field?” Cynthia
said.
“Don’t know, doesn’t seem to be a lot of kids around today.” Douglas
answered.
“I wonder where everybody is today.” Cynthia said.
"Don't know that either, maybe the movies, maybe sleeping in."
"Never seen them before in my life."
"Do you think they will let us join them?" Cynthia asked.
"Maybe...they look like real baseball players."
"What makes you say that?
“For starters they can hit and catch the ball.”
“Oh, duh you got a point there; think I’ll ask if we can play with them.”
“Hey guys! These two want to play ball! What do you
think?" The guys didn't say a word at first then the first baseman said, "It’s okay with me…can you play?”
“Of course we can play! Doug
and I shouted out.
Douglas and I walked out into the field; he gave me his catcher’s mitt.
"You keep the glove I will be okay." Doug said.
"Thank you Doug, that's awfully nice of you.” What a nice brother I
thought.
"These guys look like they mean business." When Doug said that
I got a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach
"You two ready." The pitcher shouted.
"Yeah." We answered.
“Batter-Up!” yelled the pitcher.
The pitcher looked over both of his shoulders as if he were in the big
leagues; he threw the ball the catcher yelled, "Strike one!” The batter hit the second ball it went up in the air and spun backwards. The catcher through off
his face mask and ran after the ball yelling. "Foul ball
"Doug! Did you see how fast he pitched that ball?"
"I sure did…have you seen the size of that ball?
“No why?”
“It is a hardball not a softball. That ball could kill a person. These guys
must play for a high school or college.” Douglas warned.
"Oh, shit. What are we doing out here? We are going to
die!" I said with dread.
"Just use your glove, you'll be alright, Cindy.”
“What?”
“Don’t embarrass me.”
Before I could answer the catcher yelled,” Batter up!” The batter did a Babe Ruth cocky
pose pointed at me.
“Hay, batter, batter, batter," The catcher teased. The ball left the
pitcher’s hand the batter swung and the ball soared into the sky, hung there for a horrifying moment, and then dropped toward me.
All I could think about was that I was going to die.
Oh God! I am going to die…
Oh,
please God let me catch this ball!
The ball fell toward me like a
meteorite--the only thing missing was flames. All eyes were on me! I could do this I positioned my glove over my head, trying to block the sun from my eyes; I bent my
knee’s slightly to absorb the impact. I felt like I looked like I knew what I was doing…I can do this…I can do this… I will show them all I can catch silly little
ball I can do it…a second later the ball hit me in the eye! The impacted knocked me to the ground I lay there wondering when I would die.
"Cindy! Are you alright!" Doug asked as he ran to my
side. “Why didn’t you use the glove?” I could hear concern and humiliation in his voice.
"I don’t know do I still have two eyes. I slowly setup.
“Let me see take your hand down.”
By now all, the guys on and off the field were standing
around me. Are you all right? The batter however scolded me. “What the hell were you doing if you can’t play ball you should have told us? Anyone of us could have
killed you!”
His harsh words caused me to release the water works I was holding back. Tears
streamed down my face, my eye now hurt worse. "You just did.” I sobbed.
The pitcher turned on the batter. “Way to go Bob, you said they could
play."
The batter defended him self, “They said they knew how to play! How was
I to know?"
"Well, she's a girl isn't she? What were you thinking?"
“Hay, leave my sister alone.” Doug interrupted. “Can’t you see she’s
hurt”?
“The sun was in my eyes.”
The guys helped me to my feet Doug put his arm around my waist and led me off
the field. “Why didn’t you catch the ball? That was really embarrassing.” His commented hurt right when I thought he was my knight in shining armor he had to go and
ruin it. I cried harder as we walked home.
“The sun was in my eyes I finally said.
I was hurt and humiliated for us both.
“That was the shortest baseball game in history.”
“Yeah, it sure was I was terrible.” I laughed and cried.
“Oh, r-e-a-l-l-y? I didn’t notice." Doug teased.
“Stop making me laugh—my eye hurts."
Doug smiled at me and I smiled back I was no longer upset with him.
“Doug you know what?”
“What?”
“I’m not very good at baseball.”
“So I noticed, so I noticed.”
Written by: Cynthia E. Martin
Date: 5/8/99 12:43:12 PM
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Last update:01/14/02
