Page 3 of Catching the Coach
“Are you going to the meet and greet for that little league team after the game?”
“Hell yeah. I love those things. Sign a few things, talk with the kids. It’s always a good time. Are you?”
I nod my head. “Dale suggested I go. Not that I need the suggestion. I’d go without it. I think it’s important to show the kids we’re just regular people.” I mean, I see myself as a regular person, I just have an irregular job, that happens to make me somewhat famous.
Brent Attwood makes his appearance just then, slapping my feet off the couch and plopping down next to me. “You’re anything but regular, but sure, we’ll go with that.”
I roll my eyes. “Coming from the man who doesn’t get laid because he thinks it, and I quote ‘helps his game’.”
“Bite me, Davis. Don’t knock it till you try it.”
“I don’t have to try it. You know I haven’t been with anyone in a while, and my swing is shit,” I grumble
He nods to my shoulder. “Still giving you trouble?”
I shrug. “Off and on. It’ll work out.”
Brent claps me on the shoulder. “Yeah man, it will.”
It has to. I’m not ready for the big R.I don’t say it out loud, but it hangs there, unsaid. This is not what I should have my mind on before a game. As if reading my thoughts, Reese leans over Brent and shows me a TikTok on his phone. We all stare at the screen, it’s one about voice overs with dogs, and it’s exactly what I needed. We all burst out laughing, and the thought of retirement moves to the back of my head.
CHAPTERTWO
lucy
“Hudson!We gotta leave for the stadium in 20 minutes!” I call to my 11-year-old son from the kitchen.
“OK! I’m almost done with my math. Are we wearing our jerseys?”
“Yep,” I reply. “Hats too.”
A few minutes later he appears in the living room in his baseball jersey and hat, excitement all over his face. “This is so awesome. I wonder what players we’re going to meet!
I shrug. “I guess we’ll find out after the game. Come on bud let’s get goin’. Aunt Kara and Kade are riding with us.”
I grab my purse and keys, lock up the house, and make my way to my car. Kara, Kade, and Hudson are already in the car when I get there. Kara is my best friend, backyard neighbor, and the assistant coach for my son’s little league team. We met when I moved in nine years ago and have been inseparable ever since.
I climb in and start the car, backing out of my driveway, and head downtown to Silverbacks stadium. Our team has been invited to the game tonight, as part of a community outreach program. The boys get to meet some of the players afterward and ask them questions, have them sign stuff, and take pictures. Hudson has been talking about it since I received the phone call last week from the team’s PR rep.
“I hope Kessler Davis is at the thing afterward” Hudson says to Kade, his best friend and Kara’s ten-year-old. Hudson is also a catcher for our team and has looked up to Davis since he started playing that position a couple of years ago. Meeting his idol would be the icing on the cake for him tonight.
“Just don’t get your hopes up bud. He might not even play tonight, remember he’s coming back from a pretty serious injury.” I hope he does get to meet him, but I don’t want him to be too bummed if it doesn’t work out.
“I know, but it’d be really cool if he does,” he says, bouncing in his seat a little.
I look over at Kara and cross my fingers. She does the same. The last thing we both want is our boys being disappointed.
We pull into the stadium a few minutes later and meet up with my team out front. A representative for the team greets us and takes us to our seats behind home plate. All 12 boys are front and center, parents sitting behind them in the next row. The palpable excitement the boys are feeling has them dancing in their seats.
I get up and go down in front of my team. I’m their head coach and have been for the last six years. “Ok boys, real quick.” I wait for them all to settle and focus on me. A pretty hard feat for 12 excited 10 and 11-year-olds. When they’re mostly settled and quiet I proceed, “I know this is a really exciting and cool opportunity we’ve been given. I want you guys to have fun and enjoy the game. I also want you to watch the players in your position and see how they play. Pick one thing they do well, and try to apply that next practice. But most of all have fun guys.” I give them all high fives and return to my seat.
“Nice speech Coach,” Kara says, giving me a fist bump when I get back to my seat.
“Now let's see if they actually listen.”
Kara shrugs her shoulders giving me the who knows look. The players come out onto the field and start warming up. Some of the boys stand up to see who’s playing.
“Mom!” Hudson screeches, pointing at the field. “ Kessler Davis is playing!” I look to see where he’s pointing and see Davis turn around and give him a wave with his glove. “MOM! Did you see that? He waved at me!”
