by Clay Cormany
"Oh, no!" cried Sylvia, clasping Jace’s shoulder.
Heather yelped in pain but recovered quickly. "I'm okay," she shouted, as she ran to get her water bottle. "It was already loose."
At the end of the practice there were no complaints about swollen hands or aching fingers, but Jace could still see doubt in his players’ eyes. Martha apparently could, too. As her players gulped down water and sports drink, she herded them around her and patted some on the back.
"I didn’t know if using a baseball was a good idea," Martha admitted. "But you know something? I liked what I saw out there. Using that baseball is making you stronger softball players. Not only were you making some tough catches, you were showing a lot of hustle and spirit. If you can keep that up, you’re bound to do better in our next game."
"Who knows?" Jace added. "We might even win."
The Valkyries did play better against the Hornets. They turned a double play, cut down a runner at the plate, and made just four errors. But in the bottom of the sixth, with the game tied at five, Corey walked the lead-off batter, and the next Hornet, a husky girl with her hair in braids, clubbed a double down the right field line. With runners at second and third, Corey bore down and retired the next two batters on a strike-out and pop-up. But the fifth batter connected on an inside pitch and sent the ball between second and third, bringing home the winning run.
"You’re getting better," Jace told his discouraged players at their post-game meeting. "Think how far we’ve come since our first game. No one’s using the 'mercy rule' on us now, are they?"
"But we still lost," lamented Heather. "No matter what we do, we always lose."
"We’re bound to win a game sooner or later," Sylvia said. "I know we are."
"Wanna bet on that?" Angela challenged.
Before Sylvia could answer, Jace jumped in. "Do you know where the tennis courts are near South Center Mall?"
"How will playing tennis help us with softball?" asked the persistently pessimistic Angela.
"We’re not going to play tennis," Jace answered. "The courts are near something else that will help you become better hitters."
Angela giggled. "What? A drugstore that sells steroids?"
"Hardly. Wait here a minute while I talk to my mom."
Martha was next to the bench the Valkyries had used, picking up a mitt someone had left behind. Her eyebrows went up when Jace shared his idea, and she gave her consent.
"I should've thought of that myself," she told him before he headed back to the players.
"How many of you can meet me by the tennis courts at one o’clock this Saturday?" Jace asked them.
"Tina and I will be there," said Sylvia.
"I will, too," Lauren chirped.
"Should we bring tennis rackets?" Angela asked.
"No, just two dollars."
Chapter Eighteen
Jace pulled his car into the driveway of the Thornapple home and turned off the ignition. He waited a few seconds and then turned it on again. The engine revved up, giving him assurance that his brand new battery wouldn’t fail him. It took more than half his paycheck from Farrell’s to buy the battery, but the peace of mind of driving his own vehicle made this a good investment. No stray issues of Playtime would be found on this date.
Jace glanced upward as he stepped out of his car. A clear, almost cloud-free sky stretched from one horizon to the other. In the middle, the sun hovered like some huge, unblinking eye. It was a perfect day for the zoo trip and picnic date with Stephanie. He walked toward the front porch.
Before he reached it, Stephanie called out through the screen door. "Hey there! Come on in and help me finish making sandwiches."
When Jace entered, he saw Mr. Thornapple sitting in his armchair, a glass of ice tea in one hand, reading a newspaper. Jace felt tempted to slip past him without speaking but decided that would be rude. If the man didn’t like him, ignoring him would just make things worse.
"Hello, Mr. Thornapple," he said, trying to make the greeting sound natural.
Stephanie’s father lowered his newspaper. "Hi, Jace," he replied nonchalantly and then lifted his newspaper to continue reading.
Hardly an enthusiastic greeting, but at least Jace heard nothing hostile in the man’s voice. Perhaps he had forgotten — or at least forgiven — Jace’s bringing his daughter home late from their first date.
Once in the kitchen, Stephanie put Jace to work, spreading mayonnaise on three ham and cheese sandwiches and then putting them into plastic bags. At one point, Stephanie’s mother came in, wearing sunglasses and dressed in a yellow ruffled blouse and beige shorts. Mrs. Thornapple was taller than Stephanie, but her shapely figure and auburn hair resembled her daughter’s.
"I’ve heard so much about you," said Mrs. Thornapple, after Stephanie introduced him. "Softball doesn't do much for me, but my daughter loves it and she says you're a fantastic coach."
"I’m just an assistant," Jace advised her. "My mom’s the head coach."
"Maybe so, but to hear her tell it, you’re the greatest thing since sliced bread."
Jace felt himself blush. "Tina’s exaggerating, but it’s nice to know –"
"Oh, I don’t mean Tina," Mrs. Thornapple interrupted. "It’s Sylvia who’s always singing your praises."
When Jace finished bagging the sandwiches, Stephanie put them into a large wicker basket along with a small jar of dill pickles, a bag of chips, two apples, and a package of chocolate chip cookies.
"Did you remember to bring something for us to drink?" Stephanie asked, as she shut the basket and handed it to Jace.
"Yep," he answered. "I’ve got a cooler with soft drinks and bottled water out in the car."
"Then we’re all set," she said. "I need to be back by five for a babysitting job next door, but that still gives us lots of time to see everything." She beamed a smile that sent a ripple of excitement down Jace’s spine.
They went back through the living room where Mr. Thornapple still sat reading his newspaper and then out the front door. But before they reached the car a voice called out from behind them.
"Jace?"
He stopped and saw Mrs. Thornapple standing at the door with Tina by her side.
"I hope you won’t mind, but could you take Tina to her friend’s birthday party over on Waltham?"
"I thought the Ryans were going to pick her up," said Stephanie with obvious irritation.
"They were, but then Mr. Ryan had to drive across town to pick up another guest."
"No problem," said Jace, motioning for Stephanie’s little sister to join them. "Come on, Tina, hop in the car."
Tina, wearing a blue tank top and white shorts, bolted out the door. She had her hair in a ponytail and a neatly wrapped gift in one hand. Jace opened the front door for Stephanie, and Tina jumped into the back seat, accidentally kicking the cooler that Jace had placed on the floor. She paused for a few seconds and then opened the lid.
"Any orange soda in here?"
"Not for you," Stephanie answered. "Now close the lid."
"I want an orange soda," Tina persisted.
"No, now close the lid like I told you."
"Why can’t I have one?"
"Because, you’ll get plenty to eat and drink at Rosie’s party," Stephanie said. "Now close it before the ice starts to melt."
Tina stuck out her tongue at her older sister before thumping the lid down. Jace started the car. Before he backed out of the driveway, Sylvia came out of the garage with a sprinkling can in her hand. She waved at him and then began watering the geraniums in front of the house. Jace wondered what the rest of her day would be like.
During the five minutes it took to drive to the birthday girl’s home, Tina continued to ask questions. What were they going to eat on their picnic? What would they do if it rained? Suppose ants attacked them? And where were they going for their picnic anyway?
"The zoo," Jace replied.
"Oh, that’s where we’re going, too," Tina said.
"Isn’t the party at the Ryans’ house?" said Stephanie.
"That’s where it starts," Tina explained. "But after we eat our cake and ice cream, Mr. and Mrs. Ryan are taking us to the zoo."
Stephanie shot a worried glance at Jace, who shrugged. The zoo was an enormous place. There was almost no chance that Tina and the other party-goers would interrupt their date.
Jace dropped Tina off in front of a green-and-white house with balloons tied to its mailbox and a sign saying "Happy Birthday Rosie" on the front lawn.
"Have a good time," Jace said to Tina. "But don’t get hurt whatever you do. The team needs you."
The drive to the zoo seemed to go faster without the annoyance of a preteen in the backseat. Jace wasn’t sure, but Stephanie seemed more relaxed now that Tina was gone.
"What do you want to do first?" he asked. "Eat lunch or see the animals?"
"I’m not that hungry right now," Stephanie answered. "So let’s see the critters before we eat."
When they arrived at the zoo, Jace moved the sandwiches from the basket to the cooler. "Don’t want the mayonnaise to spoil and give us food poisoning," he said with a little laugh.
Once in the zoo, Jace marveled at the renovations made since his last visit almost three years ago. Wide open spaces allowed gazelles, elephants, zebras, giraffes, and tapirs to roam about in relative freedom. There was an "island" where monkeys swung on ropes, an indoor facility where snakes and lizards slithered about, and a new aquarium that featured many kinds of fish. One tank even had massive, lettuce-munching manatees.
Jace thought one manatee in particular bore a remarkable resemblance to Carson, but decided not to share that opinion with Stephanie. She, in any case, continued to be the main attraction for him. In a pink halter top and tight blue shorts, she could hold his attention forever. Okay — that wasn’t entirely true. When they passed the zoo’s beautiful garden of ferns, day lilies, and geraniums, Jace found himself thinking of Sylvia. What could she be doing now? Did she have plans for the evening? How often did she go on dates anyway?
At some point, Stephanie’s hand found its way into his, and he held it while they laughed at cavorting otters and peered at a lynx sleeping inside a log. They snacked on popcorn and snow cones, but around one-thirty, hunger got the better of them, so they had their hands stamped and went to the car for the cooler and picnic basket. Back in the zoo, they searched for a place to have their picnic.
"Let’s go over there, under that tree," suggested Stephanie, pointing to a grassy spot next to a large oak that stood about halfway up a small hill. A few other people picnicked nearby, but not close enough to deny them some privacy.
"That’s a perfect spot," said Jace, who then, without even thinking about it, leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.
Stephanie’s eyebrows jumped. She tilted her head, her deep-blue eyes twinkling, and a little smile took shape on her lips. Jace knew he could stare into those eyes the rest of the day. But there was a picnic lunch to be eaten and then, he hoped, more kisses.
"Come on," he said, "let’s grab that spot before someone else does."
Beneath the oak, Stephanie pulled a faded white tablecloth from the wicker basket. With bees and dragonflies buzzing around them, they held opposite ends of the tablecloth and fluttered it into the air a couple of times before letting it fall to the ground. Soon all their food lay in front of them along with two cans of diet cola that Jace pulled from the cooler. Jace bit into one of the sandwiches and surveyed the area. About fifty yards away, a twenty-something couple with a toddler frolicked about. The mother bounced the child up and down on her knee. Then the father picked the little girl up, placed her on his shoulders, and began romping about like a colt. The child giggled with delight while the mother beamed.
Jace looked over at Stephanie, who munched on a dill pickle, and wondered if the scene he just witnessed could someday repeat itself with the two of them. He dismissed the thought. It was much too soon to be thinking that way.
"What would you like to do now, Jace?" Stephanie asked, after they finished eating. She leaned back on her elbows and stretched out her legs across the tablecloth. Tilting her head to one side, Stephanie put her lips together in a mischievous little smile that invited him to pick up where they left off at Wilson’s Bluff.
Jace raised his eyebrows and pretended to think about her question. "We could see more animals, if you want."
She shook her head.
"Or go down to the dock and take a boat ride up the river."
Her head shook again.
"Or….." he scooted next to her and put his arm around her neck. "We could do this for the next hour or so."
He shut his eyes and kissed her, pulling her close to him at the same time. Maybe because of the sunshine or maybe because they were lying on the ground — for whatever reason, Jace sensed Stephanie’s tenderness and warmth much more than when they made out in the car at Wilson’s Bluff. Breaking the kiss at one point, Jace nuzzled his nose against Stephanie’s cheek and blew a wisp of air into her ear, causing her to squirm and giggle. He was about to resume the kiss, when Stephanie held up a restraining hand.
"Maybe we better leave," she said, pointing at something behind him.
Jace sat up and saw that the young family he noticed earlier was playing a game. One parent bounced a ball to the other while the little girl ran between them, trying to catch it. They were much closer to Jace and Stephanie than they were before.
"I see what you mean," Jace said. "Let’s go farther up the hill."
They rose from the tablecloth, and as Stephanie smoothed her hair back into place, Jace eyed the last sandwich that lay on a napkin a few feet away. He realized he was still hungry.
"Mind if I eat that?" he asked, pointing at the sandwich. "I’ll share it with you, if you want."
"It’s all yours," Stephanie said. "I’m stuffed."
Jace picked up the sandwich and put it into his mouth. Before he could take even one bite, a searing pain erupted along the inside of his lip, as if a needle had been thrust into it. He shouted and gripped his mouth, letting his food fall out of his hands. When the sandwich struck the ground, it opened up, and a yellow jacket flew out with an angry buzz.
Staring at him in alarm, the nearby family ended their game and retreated. Stephanie put a comforting hand on his cheek.
"Oh, Jace, did you get stung?"
"Yeah, but don’t worry," he answered, pressing his hands over his wounded lip. "I’m not allergic to bee stings."
"But that has to really hurt," she exclaimed. "Here, let me look at it."
She gently pried his fingers away from his mouth, and her eyebrows furrowed with worry.
"It’s starting to swell. We need to get you to a first aid station."
"Oh, I don’t think it’s all that bad."
But Stephanie didn’t listen. Grabbing a napkin, she reached into the cooler and pulled out two ice cubes. "Here, put these on your mouth," she said, handing him the napkin-encased cubes. "It’ll help reduce the swelling."
Jace opened his mouth to protest but then decided not to. For one thing, his lip did hurt — much more than he admitted to Stephanie — plus he liked having her fuss over him.
While Jace pressed the ice to his lip, Stephanie threw away the leftover food and jammed the tablecloth back into the picnic basket.
"Let’s go back to the front gate," she said, grasping the handle of the wicker basket. "Can you still carry the cooler?"
"Nog a prolem," he said.
"What did you say?"
Great, thought Jace, the swelling is so bad I can’t be understood. He settled for a nod.
They left the oak tree and headed toward the zoo’s entrance about a quarter mile away. With the ice cubes held to his lip, Jace could feel how swollen it was, and he wondered what his face looked like.
At the entrance, the two of them searched for a first aid station. None was in sight, but they saw an information booth just a few feet beyond the turnstiles w
here people entered.
"Let’s go there and see if they can help," Stephanie said, pointing to the booth.
"Lee the way," Jace replied.
Before they could take more than a few steps, a familiar voice cried out behind them.
"Hey, Stephanie, see what I got!" shouted Tina.
Stephanie and Jace turned around, as Tina came bounding up to them, followed by two other preteens.
"Check out my hat, Steph. See what’s on it?"
She pointed to an oversized straw hat that almost fell over her eyes. On the top, two miniature rubber monsters — King Kong and Godzilla — clawed at each other in mortal combat.
"Yeah, it’s neat," Stephanie said with impatience. "Now Jace and I need to get over to –"
"Mrs. Ryan gave everyone at the party five dollars to spend at the zoo. This hat cost eight dollars, but I already had four dollars that Mom gave…."
Tina stopped in mid-sentence when she caught sight of Jace’s face. "Jace what happened to you? Your cheek’s all puffed out."
"I ga stun by a bee," he said, trying to act cool and composed.
"It's gross!" said Tina, wincing in disgust.
"Yeah," said a freckle-faced boy next to her. "Kind of like Quasimodo in that halfback of Notre Dame movie."
"You mean hunchback, dill-weed," a girl with braids interjected.
"That’s enough," said Stephanie with annoyance. "He won’t look like Quasimodo once we get him some first aid….I mean… he won’t…" She paused, perhaps wishing she had chosen a different way to describe him.
"Hey, what's that coming out his mouth?" said the freckle-faced boy.
The girl with braids moved closer, and her mouth opened in horror. "It's drool! Like a baby has. Oh gross!"
Stephanie started to bring her hand toward his mouth as if to wipe off the dripping, but then stopped and grimaced. "Come on. Let’s get you some help."