So the game’s been over two hours or something and all the kids have been taken out for ice cream by their folks who stayed to watch or picked up by those who didn’t and the coach that peabrain has shoved all the bases and eats and balls in these pillowcase things and they’re in the back of his country squire with the wood on the sides and it’s starting to get dark I sat the bench till the seventh then struck out on three and sat out again so nobody’s talked to me all day the coach looks a little fake concerned your mom coming or what I nod he smiles and drives away I’m small for my age and skinny but smart enough I think of phone booths (no change no dough at all) hitching a ride (child molesters) walking (six miles plus the darkness factor) knocking on the door of the nearest house (dark ness plus child molesters plus it’s memorial day weekend so good luck) when our rambler wagon no wood on the sides comes barreling down the dirt road I’m crying now scared and pissed off in the defenseless kid way where have you been you stupid jerk watch you language sound man she says I brought the groceries home and the phone rain and then one thing led to another did you hit one ever the fence for me