Empty Stands at the Softball Field

The sounds of bats cracking and overbearing dad and mom screaming surrounded me on my stroll to the quads. A cumbersome pink bag weighing me down due to my fragile measurement was the first indication that I used to be new to this sport. It solely acquired worse as I entered the dugout and unzipped the bag. Out popped a pink and black glove with a princess emblem stitched on the thumb, a florescent pink helmet, and a metallic bat too lengthy for me. The ladies in the dugout snickered, however I held my head excessive. Momma at all times mentioned, “Sticks and stones, Kaitlin.”

The coach was quantity seven’s dad who wore a baseball cap that, fairly frankly, irritated me as a result of we have been a women’ softball staff, and boys had cooties. Seems, primary, quantity ninety-nine, and quantity six all had their dorky wanting, know-it-all dads on the clay with them as nicely. The remaining seven women’ dads weren’t the outgoing sort, however have been nonetheless on the bleachers calling from the different aspect of the fence issues like “don’t overlook to launch it at your hip!” and even “hold your head down, swing more durable.

” My dad was nowhere to be discovered. He had promised, like he did many instances prior, however destiny someway had as soon as once more proved him unjust.

The sport was over, and I didn’t even keep for the complimentary snack and juice. As a substitute of celebrating the Orioles’ first win with my staff, I ran as quick as I may off the subject, out of the park, and away from all the little women who have been embracing their dad’s congratulatory hugs.

I couldn’t resist the pull of the subject for lengthy.I ultimately realized to like the sport, and realized to cease wanting in the stands. I realized how one can embrace my father absence, I realized how one can grow to be unbiased, and I realized how one can be courageous. His absence permeated all the pieces together with my teachers. My father was by no means the father or mother that got here into the classroom in grade college for Christmas events. My father wasn’t the one scolding me for my poor check grade. My father wasn’t the one saying “Kaitlin do your homework!” My motivation at school arose from my private curiosity in changing into extra educated than I used to be the day earlier than.

I take into consideration my first day on the unfamiliar softball subject typically. I used to be discouraged and heartbroken, and puzzled if I’d ever have the “good life” of a father in the stands. However in his unintentional manner, my father gave me the good life. His absence taught me that the good life is studying to swing the bat myself with out scanning the stands for his presence.