“She said she’d called for more food to be delivered. Once the truck’s unloaded, she’ll send it over, and we can use it,” Brit said.
“What does Mr. Orange think?” I asked.
“That man is worthless. I think he’s about to have a meltdown,” she admitted.
“Who’s having a meltdown?” Mom asked.
I hadn’t seen her come up. As I turned to her, over her shoulder I saw Dad talking with Coach Diamond and several of the Washington boosters.
“Can you go help Brit?” I asked.
“I didn’t come here to work,” Mom complained. But she left with Brit.
I worried about what this would cost me. When I looked up, it seemed my line had tripled again. Kendal and Megan were handing out the pre-signed photos. When I say pre-signed, I mean I’d signed one, and they’d made copies. They roped Dad into helping them.
◊◊◊
My phone began ringing. I ignored it because I was signing autographs like crazy. Then it rang again, so I stopped and checked caller ID. It was Angel, Eve’s agent.
“What’s going on? No one’s answering their phones,” she complained.
“We have a much bigger crowd than we expected. Aren’t you supposed to be here by now?” I asked.
“Well, that’s the problem. We’re stuck in traffic.”
I said a bad word. Who would ever think there would be a traffic jam in Washington?
“Where are you?” I asked.
She told me, and I advised her where to turn and how to cut through the back roads to get to the school. I waved down my dad and told him to tell someone.
I heard a helicopter. When it got closer, it became evident it was a state police chopper. It made a big circle around the high school and then landed in the cornfield across the road. I recognized the governor and his team. He wasn’t about to miss an opportunity to get in front of a crowd this size when the primaries were next Tuesday.
I watched them come to the food tent and find the Washington boosters. I got nervous when they all turned and pointed at me, and the governor shook his head. Coach Diamond came and got me.
“I hear this is all your fault,” Governor Higgins said.
“They said they wanted a bigger event,” I said with a shrug.
“Well, we need to have someone make announcements, and you’ve been elected.”
I walked out on stage and explained that we hadn’t expected so many people and that porta-potties were now set up. The school had also opened so its restrooms could be used. While I talked, Eve showed up, and I brought her on stage.
While they set up, I brought the governor up to say a few words.
Word must have gotten out because there were two news copters taking videos of the crowd. Someone estimated we had twenty thousand people here. I was out of photos, so I left to change into my baseball gear. Moose and the team had arrived, so it was time to warm up.
◊◊◊
Eve played her set, and then it was time for the game.
“Be sure to thank David A. Dawson for the event today. Without his help, none of this would have happened,” Eve said before she got off stage.
I would get even someday. Just not today.
Moose brought us into the dugout before the game.
“Looks like we might have a crowd tonight,” Moose observed.
“You think?” Jim asked.
“Are all our games going to be this well attended?” Yuri asked.
Everyone looked at me. I just flipped them off.
Governor Higgins threw out the first pitch, and then Eve sang the national anthem.
It was finally time for baseball, and I was up first. Out of habit, I looked down to third base. I was shocked when I recognized the bunt sign. Washington’s pitcher was a small kid who looked like a freshman. While he warmed up, I’d timed his pitches, and I had big plans. I took a couple of mighty cuts and settled into the box.
I concentrated on what I’d learned and made a show of acting like I planned to park the first pitch. Coach Diamond moved his infield and outfield back in anticipation. The kid pitching was clearly nervous. I almost cried when he threw a fastball right down the pipe. I squared around and pushed my bunt towards first base.
No one in the park expected I would bunt. The first baseman finally figured out he needed to get the ball. Neither the second baseman nor the pitcher covered first, so I was safe. Coach Diamond was seething on the bench because Moose had put one over on him.
Coach Haskins, from third, signaled for me to steal. He gave the sign for the batter, Yuri, to take the first pitch. I took my lead at first, daring the kid to chase me back. He threw the pitch home instead. As soon as he lifted his lead leg, I was off. The throw from the catcher went high and sailed into center field. Coach Haskins signaled that I could stand up at third and then suddenly signaled for me to go home.
What I hadn’t seen was the center fielder had decided not to hit his cutoff man, but throw to third. He was way off the line and tossed it to the fence by our dugout. I wondered if Yuri got an RBI for standing in the box. Their pitcher settled down and got the side to go down in order.
