8

Amora

I sighed as I threw the bag over my shoulder, and began to walk down the sidewalk.

A few moments into my walk, I spotted the same boy from a few days sitting down at a porch with his head hung low.

The memories of him at the sandlot reoccurred in my mind, making me slow down my pace.

I clicked my tongue as I began to contemplate wether I should talk to him, before finally walking towards him.

"Hey!" I called out, making his head whip up.Immediately he visibly grew nervous, watching me approach him.

"Hi" he replied softly, fiddling with the glove in his hand nervously.

"What's your name?" I asked, leaning against the railing behind me.

"Scotty Smalls. But uh you can just call me Smalls" he replied, with a nod as he spoke.

"Alright, Smalls. I saw what happened yesterday" I breathed out, sitting down next to him.

"Oh. Yeah" he sighed sadly, looking down with embarrassment.

"You like baseball?" I asked, motioning towards the glove in his hand."Y-yeah but I'm no good" he replied, shaking his head.

"Hm, I'm sure you are. You just need a bit of confidence" I replied with a shrug, and crossing my arms.

"I'm sure I can help you with that" I continued, making his eyes immediately lit up."Really? How!" He asked, with hope now laced in his tone.

"Duh, just leave that to me. Let's go" I replied, before standing up and motioning him to follow.

——

"Are you sure this is gonna work?" He asked, slowly following behind me.

"Totally! Don't even question her Smalls" Carrie clarified, patting his back.

"Alright Scotty, I'm may not know a thing about baseball but I certainly know the fashion of it!" I smiled, fixing the collar of his t-shirt.

"Now I may be able to help you dress like a ball player , but you got to show that you can actually play alright?" I ordered, as we began to approach the group on the field.

"Hey look! It's the square that can't throw a ball!" Hams laughed, pointing over towards us.

"Yeah yeah he can't even catch either!" Yeah-yeah teased, with them all laughing after.

Benny shook his head at their remarks before jogging towards us.

"Hey uh, you play baseball?" He asked, looking down at Smalls.

Smalls began to stutter unsurely, making me sigh."Yes, he does. Right Smalls?" I jumped in, nudging his arm as he nodded.

"Cool, want to play? We need an extra guy" Benny asked, glancing back over towards the field.

Smalls hesitantly nodded, making a light smile grow across my face at the small improvement.

"Alright, you can take left center" he ordered, before turning to walk back onto the field.

I watched as Smalls looked around unsurely, jogging over towards a random spot."Here?" He called out, making Benny look back.

"It's over there man" Benny shook his head, pointing over towards the correct spot.

Smalls nodded before running over, making Benny nod in approval and jog away.

Smalls breathed out nervously looking back to give me a nervous smile."You'll be fine" I assured him, patting his shoulder before walking off.

"Wait wait!" I exclaimed, immediately rushing back over."Your hat! How could I forget!" I flicked the hat he had on before digging into my bag.

Smalls nodded slipping off his hat before taking the new one I gave him.

"Alright now you got it" I took the hat from him, before walking off.

I walked over towards the sidelines with Carrie, as we both stood their watching.

"You think he's gonna do good?" Carrie asked, leaning over towards the side closer to me.

"Duh! He's got to!" I nodded my head, letting out a nervous breathe.

"Yeah-yeah get two!" Benny called out, pointing towards him with the ball.

Benny threw the ball up before swinging back his bat, and hitting it sending the ball flying out.

We all watched the ball fly over towards Smalls, as he lifted his glove up to catch it yet falling back again.

I groaned rubbing my eyes, hearing the boys teasing laughters.

"I'll get it!" Smalls shouted out, quickly standing up and running over to get the ball.

We all stood silently watching him retrieve the ball, before looking around hesitantly.

"What the hell is he doing?" Hams questioned, while we stared at the boy struggle.

He went into an unsure stance, attempting to throw the ball before shaking his head and slowly walking over.

"I don't believe this!" We all gasped, seeing him walking over with the ball in his hand.

I winced watching when Smalls slowly walked over handing the ball to yeah-yeah, before running back to his spot.

Benny shook his head before jogging over, leaving the boys to all burst out laughing.

"He's an L-7 weenie!" Squints called out, holding up his fingers.

"Yeah yeah he walked instead of throwing it Benny!" Yeah-yeah teased, pointing at him.

"Benny honestly, why are you even trying?" Aubrey teased along with them, shaking her head.

Benny jogged back over, rolling his eyes at their comments.

"C'mon Benny man he has no game!" Kenny added, shaking his head at Benny.

"Will you chicken shits shut up already!" I finally groaned, being tired of their crap.

I narrowed my eyes watching when squints stuck his tongue out at me, making me stick up the finger at him.

"Hey! She just-

"Shut up squints!" Benny shouted, looking down at the ball in his hand.

"He's not gonna hit it Benny" Hams shook his head, smacking the glove in his hand.

Benny ignored what he said, throwing the ball up and hitting it once again.

Immediately I threw my hands to my face nervously, watching as the ball flew towards Smalls.

My eyes widened seeing Smalls lift his glove up, with the ball landing perfectly into it.

"Yes!" I squealed out, clapping my hands excitedly."Smalls you did it!" I called out, making a wide smile grow across his face.

"Alright! See I told you!" Benny smiled, looking back towards the group who stood there stunned.

"Ha! Take that four eyes!" I mocked, pointing at squints."Shut up! I guess he's alright!" Squints rolled his eyes, wiping off his glasses.

Smalls smiled before throwing the ball perfectly to Bertram, making a stunned smile spread across his face.

"Eh! Whatever, I knew all along!" Kenny shrugged, crossing his arms.

Benny rolled his eyes before him and I both smiled towards Smalls and gave him a thumbs up, as he returned it back to us.