The Hidden Rose
Jayne Amanda Maynes
Copyright © 2014 Jayne A Maynes
All characters in this book are fictitious, and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
ISBN: 978-1-3105-3832-2
Chapter 1
“Sam you're up,” my coach said.
“Let someone else go,” I said.
“Are you crazy, two outs, the bases loaded, and you're the best hitter we have,” the coach said.
I picked up the bat and walked out to the plate. This was so stupid, I didn't care about this game. Sure a home run and we would win, but just what did we win?
Why can't they understand? I don't want to play this kind of game, it has limits, and limits mean only so much room for advancement. They probably think it's because of the rules, but without rules there is only chaos, and chaos leads to disaster. What the girls are doing on the other hand, makes sense. The limit for growth is infinite, the rules sound and just. Limited only by your imagination.
The pitcher couldn't just walk me if he did we would win, that meant he had to try getting me to strikeout, or hit the ball where it could be played. All I had to do was hit the ball as I normally did and the game was over, and my team won. I didn't care, all I wanted was to be able to be myself, and even I didn't know who that was.
The first pitch I watched go by not liking where it was.
“Ball one,” called the umpire.
Again the pitcher threw the ball and again I just stood there letting it go. My team was counting on me.
“Ball two,” was the call.
I looked at the runners and nodded, my signal for them to go on this pitch. The pitcher released the ball and I watched keeping my eyes on the ball and lining the swing up with where the ball would be. I felt the bat come around, the ball right in the center of the plate at waist height. I stood there knowing the bat would connect and send the ball flying in the opposite direction it had been traveling. I pulled up and felt the ball hit the sweet spot of the bat shattering the bat and sending the free end flying toward the pitcher.
The ball took off no doubt of where it was going, straight over the center field wall. I watched the end of the bat and realized if the pitcher didn't move soon it would be to late. I was frozen watching what was happening as though in slow motion.
This was insane it was to late for the pitcher to do anything now, he moved to slow and was going to be hit with the end of the bat I had just used to win this stupid game. I tried wishing, hoping without hope I could do something to prevent what I knew was going to happen and all of a sudden the end of the bat dropped on the ground. It didn't make sense the rules of physics said what happened wasn't possible, yet I witnessed it. I set down the part of the bat I was holding and slowly headed for first base.
I rounded the bases crossing home plate, Gary (the catcher for the other team) asked me what it was I said after hitting the ball. I gave him a strange look not understanding what he was talking about since I didn't remember saying anything, I was to worried Mike would be hurt when the broken bat hit him.
“Sam, wait up,” Mike called out.
I turned around and waited while Mike ran to catch up with me.
“That was a great hit,” he said.
“That was my last. I told the coach I quit,” I said.
“What do you mean you're quitting? Sam you're the best out there,” Mike said.
“Thanks Mike, but that was the fourth bat this year and this time it almost killed you. I'm done, it just isn't worth it any longer,” I said.
Even my best friend didn't understand that to me games like baseball just didn't matter. They were finite there was only so much room for progression and I had reached that pinnacle, he had said it himself I was the best out there on the field. When I was batting it didn't matter left or right. Pitchers refused to pitch to me except in a similar situation to this time because they didn't have anything I couldn't hit. Mike knew better than to throw the ball down the middle, he knew as soon as he released the ball it was a home run and his team lost. But he didn't deserve to have the end of the bat come flying at him, and that meant I was done, I wouldn't put anyone else at risk like that.
“How did you do that Sam?” Kathy said running up to me as soon and Mike left.
“How did I do what?” I asked.
“Make that bat break like it did,” Kathy said.
“I didn't... I guess I wasn't holding it right and it broke. That was the last one I'll ever break though, I quit,” I said.
“Just like you quit everything else? You'll never get what you want if you always quit Sam,” Kathy said.
“You're a fine one to talk, always playing those silly magic tricks when you know it's all just a bunch of nonsense. Everybody knows there's no such thing as magic, or at least everyone but my big sister,” I said.
“You wait Sam. One day I'll be the head of a coven and you'll wish you never said that,” she said.
“Kathy!” She ran off after smacking me for making fun of her and her passion for all things magical. She knew why I quit she was the only one I had ever shared my lack of interest in sports with.
“Kathy wait, please, I'm sorry, you know I didn't mean that,” I said.
“You did mean it. You meant it because you can do those magic tricks better and know the secret behind them,” she said.
“I was just frustrated because I can't do the kinds of things I like doing. You're the only person I feel safe telling the things I want,” I said.
“You know I don't tell anybody,” she said.
Kathy was the only person I felt safe telling how much I wished I was a girl. She was the only person I had ever shown the kind of clothes I wished I could wear. She was the only person I knew wouldn't ridicule me for wanting to be who I felt I was.
“If you don't quit I'll let you wear your favorite, and even help with the make-up,” she said.
“It's to late I already told the coach I was quitting,” I said.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
“That dress is so beautiful Kathy,” I said.
“I'm sure yours will be just as pretty when you finally find Mr Right, Sam,” Kathy said.
“You promised you'd never tell,” I said.
“I'm sorry I didn't think. Sam, I've never told anyone,” Kathy said.
“You've never told anyone what Katherine?” Mom asked.
“Nothing mom,” Kathy said.