Best of the Best

by Tim Green

  “But it happened, right?” Jaden said. “You’re not cold, hard evidence. Nothing is your fault.”

  Josh thought for a minute, then looked at the clock on her father’s desk.

  “Will you do it with me?” he asked.

  “Me? How?”

  “I can call him right now to come over here,” Josh said.

  “I don’t think I should be the one to tell him,” Jaden said.

  “You don’t have to say anything. Just be here with me.”

  “Sure,” she said. “I will.”

  Josh dialed his father, who said it wasn’t a problem at all for him to come a little early and to pick him up at Jaden’s.

  “I’ve got something to show you,” Josh said.

  “That’s funny,” his father said, “because I’ve got something to show you, too.”

  Josh hung up, and he and Jaden looked at each other.

  “You want to listen to some CDs?” she asked.

  “Sure.”

  Josh had no idea what they listened to because he was really listening for the doorbell. When it rang, he jumped up and swung open the door. His father stepped in, filling the entryway and ducking his head so as not to collide with the light that hung from a brass chain. Josh turned and went back into the living room, sitting down on the couch and grabbing Jaden’s cell phone up off the coffee table.

  “So,” his father said in that deep rumble as he passed through the doorway and stood with his arms folded across his massive chest, “what is it you want me to see?”

  CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

  “DAD,” JOSH SAID, HOLDING up the phone. “I don’t want you to shoot the messenger.”

  “Why would I?” his dad asked. “What are you two up to?”

  Jaden sat with her hands pinned under her legs and her mouth clamped shut. She looked from Josh to his dad and back with wide eyes.

  “Do you want to sit down, Dad?” Josh asked, his voice now trembling. He felt like the Athenians must have felt inside their Trojan horse, inside the city walls, ready and waiting to spring out and grab the victory they deserved.

  “Not really,” his father said. “What have you got there?”

  “There’s a clothing store in Nettleton Commons,” Josh said, nodding at Jaden. “I went there with Jaden after helping out at the Assisi Center.”

  “They have great tops,” Jaden said, “lots of silk. Stuff from New York City.”

  “And so,” Josh said, looking at the phone in his hands. “We were there. And we were in the gallery upstairs and, I don’t know, we were sitting and talking, and all of a sudden Diane comes out of what I guess is her office.”

  “Right,” his dad said, “that’s where she works. So what?”

  “Well, Dad,” Josh said, standing up and crossing the small room so he could hand over the phone. “I had Jaden’s phone and I saw Diane with this guy who I guess is her ex-husband and…”

  Josh started to choke on his words. He didn’t know which strangled him more, fear or embarrassment. Either way, he was out of the horse now. No more surprise attacks. The fight was on.

  “And, what?” his dad asked.

  “Just play it. You’ll see. Just hit the play button.”

  His father set his jaw, scowling and frowning and immovable as he hit the play button. Josh could hear the audio of Diane’s cackle and the boastful sound of Right Cross, her ex-husband. Josh snuck a peek at his father’s face when it got to the part where he knew they kissed, then he looked down.

  His father snapped the phone shut with a cold and final pop. Josh looked up. His father held out the phone to him and took a deep breath, filling his lungs with a sound that reminded Josh of when they filled the propane tanks for their grill. Josh took the phone and waited.

  CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

  “I’M CERTAINLY NOT GOING to shoot the messenger,” his father finally said.

  Josh looked up. None of the anger had lost its hold on his father’s concrete face. The thick black brows still met at angles on the bridge of his nose like two caterpillars diving for the same spot.

  “Good,” Josh said quietly. “I mean, I’m sorry about all this, but I thought you’d want to know.”

  “You’re right,” his father said. “I’d rather know than not.”

  “So, what will you do?” Josh asked.

  “End it.”

  Those two words seemed to hang in the air.

  “End it?” Joy bloomed inside of him. “For real?”

  “Sometimes you think you know someone,” his father said, “but when you find out you can’t trust them, it’s never the same.”

  Josh winced at the similarity of what his father said to what his mother had told him only an hour ago.

  “What?” his father demanded.

  Josh hesitated, then looked down and said, “Mom said the same thing about you.”

  Josh’s dad glanced at Jaden and bit into his lower lip. “Listen, Josh. I know you don’t understand any of this, but sometimes things happen with two people. It’s hard to explain. You’ll understand when you’re older.”

  His father looked past him, staring out the window for a minute as if in deep thought before he said, “Anyway, let’s go hit some balls. Whatever happens with all this, the Titans have a tournament in Cleveland this weekend and then Philadelphia the next week. Without you and Benji, we need all the practice we can get. And you’ve got the regional finals. If you win, you’ll go to the World Series. Think about that, not all this other stuff. That’s something you’ll remember for the rest of your life.”

  “I don’t care about the World Series, Dad,” Josh said. “It’s one tournament.”

  “Don’t say that, Son,” his father said. “You think that now, but believe me, the day will come when all this stuff with me and your mother will fade, but playing in the World Series will be right there in the front of your mind as long as you live.”

  “But I’d give it up in a second to have you and Mom back together,” Josh said.

  His father’s concrete expression seemed like it might crumble, and Josh thought he saw the glint of moisture in his eyes, but all his father said was “Let’s go.”

  His father turned toward the door, then looked back and said, “Jaden, why don’t you come have dinner with us at Aunt Josie’s? I talked to Pops—he’s got some homemade noodles and braciole.”

  Jaden shrugged and said, “Okay, sure. Thanks, Mr. LeBlanc. My dad has rounds until nine, so I was on my own.”

  “Now you’re with us,” Josh’s dad said.

  Outside in Jaden’s driveway sat a brand-new red Camaro with tan leather seats.

  “Wow,” Josh said, despite remembering his mother’s words about them not having enough money, “nice.”

  “I thought you’d like it,” his father said, obviously proud.

  They had dinner and then went straight to the batting cages, where Jaden helped Josh’s dad keep stats on the team’s batting as he went through the cages coaching them, one by one. Josh felt his rhythm and his dad only stayed in his cage for half a dozen balls before he nodded at Josh and said, “Just keep doing what you’re doing, Josh.”

  Jaden grinned and followed Josh’s dad to the next cage.

  Josh turned his attention back to the machine, switching off from left to right and blasting nearly everything that came at him. With every pitch, he felt a bit of steam from his anger and anxiety released into the summer twilight, drifting up to mix with the bugs that swarmed the halogen lights high above the cages. When he finally walked out of the cage, tugging his hand free from the batting glove, he felt tired and almost at peace.

  It seemed to him that once his father ditched Diane Cross, everything would work out. It might take his mom some time to get over the hurt, but, like Jaden said, sooner or later she had to come around. That’s how it seemed to Josh as he and Jaden and his dad rode through the streets with the windows down, eating ice-cream cones and bobbing their heads to the sound of the radio. When they dropped J
aden off, she was so giddy she wished Josh good luck and kissed his cheek before skipping up the steps and into her house.

  Josh blushed and stayed silent as his father rumbled through the streets. When they pulled up in front of their house, Josh asked, “You want to come in?”

  CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

  HIS FATHER TURNED THE radio off and chuckled, messing up Josh’s hair.

  “You never stop, right?” he said. “I like your persistence, buddy, but you have to understand that this isn’t something you can just badger back into place. It’s a mess. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I know whatever it is, it’s not your fault.”

  Josh hung his head.

  “Do you think that?” his dad asked. “That it’s your fault?”

  Josh cleared his throat and softly said, “I just can’t help thinking how things would be if we didn’t win in Cooperstown. Then you wouldn’t have even been looking for a new house. That’s how you met Diane. It never would have happened.”

  His father took a deep breath and let it out slow. “You can’t go through life like that, Son. You do your best. You try. But you have to know when things are beyond your control.”

  Josh looked up at the house, knowing from the glow in the front window that the TV was on, probably Gran, and the bathroom light upstairs meant his mom was giving Laurel a bath.

  “I still don’t want you to be with someone who’s going to do what she’s doing,” Josh said. “And if that ends, you can’t blame me for thinking about you guys getting back together.”

  “No,” his father said, “I guess I can’t blame you. But I’ve got to find out what’s really going on.”

  “Isn’t it obvious?” Josh asked.

  “Not always, Josh,” his father said.

  “You’re kidding,” Josh said.

  “Look,” his dad said, taking hold of Josh’s shoulder, “first things first. Let me deal with Diane. Even if it turns out things are as bad as they seem, I need to end it the right way. Then let me go hopefully try to win this tournament in Ohio. Without you it won’t be easy. Then, when I get back, I can try to talk with your mom. I don’t want you to get your hopes up, though.”

  “So if it’s true,” Josh said, “you’re gonna dump that Diane like a bad habit, right?”

  His father looked out at the street ahead. Bugs streaked through the headlight beams.

  “I guess, something like that,” his father said. “It’s not going to happen tonight, though. She’s at some Realtors conference in Pittsburgh. I’ll talk to her when I get back from the tournament.”

  “If we do win this thing,” Josh said, feeling better and better about everything, “you won’t even be able to see the World Series, will you? You’ve got the Philadelphia tournament coming up.”

  “Hey,” his dad said, squeezing Josh’s shoulder so hard it almost hurt. “You make it to the World Series, I’ll figure something out. It’s not too far from there to Williamsport, and that’s not something I want to miss. I’m telling you, don’t be distracted by all this. Think about playing the best of the best in the entire world. We talk about scouts and all the people who saw you at Cooperstown and that was great. No doubt you’re on people’s radar screens, but this will lock you into those people’s minds. You do this and I promise you, you’ll have a Division One scholarship with your name on it. After that, straight to the pros.”

  Josh felt an electric current pass through him and it was as if he were floating off the seat.

  “You good?” his dad said, meaning did Josh understand what was at stake.

  “Yeah,” Josh said, “I just wish you were coaching us instead of Coach Q.”

  His father nodded, then said, “You coach them. You coached Marcus to bunt. You know the game as well as anyone.”

  Josh told him about some of the things he’d done.

  “See?” his dad said. “So, step it up. Keep coaching them. Don’t be shy about it.”

  “But I don’t think Coach Q would like it,” Josh said. “He likes calling it his team.”

  “It can be his team,” Josh’s dad said. “I didn’t say it couldn’t. You didn’t either. But you can get those guys ready. Just be discreet.”

  “Like, keep it secret?” Josh asked.

  “It’s not that you have to keep it a secret,” his dad said. “Just be, I don’t know, quiet about it.”

  “Okay,” Josh said, grinning. “I like it. Coaching. Just like you.”

  “Well, not just like me,” his dad said.

  “Why not?”

  “If a player is on my team, he knows I’m the coach. You’re a player, so you have to be careful that they want your help. Does that make sense?”

  “Sure,” Josh said.

  “Good,” his dad said, “because if you get it wrong, you’ll wish you never tried.”

  CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

  IN THE FIRST GAME of the regional finals in New Jersey, Josh blasted a grand slam in the top of the sixth inning that gave his team a two-run lead. That’s how the side ended, and the Lyncourt All-Stars took the field in the bottom of the inning chattering like parakeets and confident they could defeat the team from Orchard Park. Niko Fedchenko took the mound. He was as hot as a chili pepper.

  As they threw the ball around the infield to warm up, Josh sensed a joyful carelessness in his teammates that sat in his stomach like a spider. His prior experience—first with a U14 team, then with the National Champion Titans—had taught him never to relax until the final out of the game. His teammates, however, seemed to feel like the bottom of the sixth was and fans in the stands how easy it was for them to beat Orchard Park.

  “Guys!” Josh shouted as the first batter stepped up to the plate. “Come on, let’s finish this out. Everybody on their toes!”

  “Josh!” Benji shouted from right field. “Like this?”

  Benji made a show of rising up on his tippy toes before he cut a loud fart. The entire team broke out into a fit of laughter, including Niko on the mound. Josh shook his head and got into his spot on the edge of the infield halfway between second and third.

  Niko lobbed one in and the first batter smacked it deep into right field. Benji backpedaled like a champion and snagged the pop fly, hooting like a maniac as he fired the ball back into the infield.

  One out. Still, Josh felt like his uniform was two sizes two tight and he wiped a patch of sweat from his forehead. He knew the casual attitude of his teammates was a dangerous thing. Niko blew a kiss to someone in the crowd before he threw his first pitch to the next batter. The Orchard Park second baseman blasted the pitch into the hole between first and second and bounced on his own toes as he stood safely on first.

  “Come on, guys!” Josh shouted. “Let’s lock this thing down.”

  Niko looked at Josh, this time more serious. The pitcher seemed to focus and threw two straight strikes before two balls and finally a fastball that left the batter swinging and missing. Two outs.

  Niko grinned at Josh and offered a thumbs-up. Coach Q howled from the dugout. “Get ’em, Niko! You’re the man!”

  Niko took the praise to heart and fooled around with the next batter enough that a missed pitch got by Vito and the runner on first stole second.

  “Enjoy the exercise!” Benji shouted to the runner on second. “’Cause you ain’t gettin’ home.”

  “Benji!” Josh shouted. “You see that batter? That’s the tying run. Focus on him and let’s get this win.”

  “We got the win, buddy!” Benji shouted. “We got it locked down tighter than a beetle’s butt crack.”

  The laughter from all sides only made Josh clench his teeth and shake his head. The batter stepped into the box and Josh recognized the other team’s big first baseman, who’d already hit a triple in the second inning. Josh glanced at the runner on second and stepped back a bit onto the grass. Niko wiped a tear of laughter from his eye and wound up for the pitch.

  The crack of the bat startled even Josh. The ball disappeared into the sky, nea
rly straight up, but hit so hard that it would surely come down outside the infield. The runner on second took off. Josh reacted instinctively, moving into position to cover second as the second baseman ran for the pop fly. As the second baseman moved back, Benji shot forward, as did the center fielder.

  All three players shouted at the tops of their lungs, “I got it! I got it! I got it!”

  As the ball was falling to the earth, Josh was aware of the batter cruising toward him after rounding first and the other runner rounding third on his way home. If Benji caught it, the game would be over. If not, it’d be bad news.

  As the batter flashed past second, Josh surged toward the outfield without thinking. Benji’s glove went up, but so did the second baseman’s as well as the center fielder’s. At the same instant Zamboni sprinted into the scene all the way from left field. When all four players collided, the ball bounced off the heap and dribbled to the ground, uncaught, and with the batter headed for home.

  CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

  JOSH GOT THERE BEFORE any of his four teammates could recover. He snatched the ball from the grass, cranked his hips around, and fired a rocket for home plate. The batter whose run would have tied the game slid, low and hard, with picture-perfect form. The ball snapped home into Vito’s catcher’s mitt. A cloud of dust exploded from beneath the runner’s feet and the umpire dipped his head toward the plate, pausing to be certain of what he’d seen.

  Josh held his breath.

  The entire stadium went quiet. Josh heard the voice of a little kid somewhere in the stands asking his parent what happened.

  “You’re out!” shouted the umpire.

  Josh’s team exploded with cheers, and Coach Q danced out onto the field to hug his son. Josh hooted and jumped into the air, slapping high-fives with Niko. From the corner of his eye he caught the flash of someone from the crowd leaping over the fence. Josh turned and watched as Diane Cross dashed out onto the grass, sprinting on high heels toward the pile of players behind second base who were still recovering from their crash.