The loud crack echoed through the ballpark as the bat made with the ball. The crowd was on its feet as the ball sailed towards the fence.
The crowd was cheering, those in green were desperate for the ball to keep going and those in black were praying that the ball would start to drop.
The center fielder tracked the arc of the ball as he headed towards the fence.
The ball began to drop; he dove, stretching out his glove.
He hit the ground as the ball sailed over the fence.
The crowd erupted into cheers as the young freshman batter ran the bases. He rounded third and was met with his elated teammates as he stepped on home plate.
“F*ck yeah!”
“Way to go Colt!”
“Colt coming in clutch!”
Colt was ecstatic, he was one of the only three freshmen on the varsity baseball team, and the only one that had started.
“Homerun for the Libero Warriors!”
With Colt’s bottom of the ninth home run, Libero pulled out the win in their first region game.
Colt looked around, excited that his family could be there for his big moment. He couldn’t wait to tell his dad that all the extra batting practice they had done had paid off.
His teammates let him down to shake hands with the other team and Colt headed towards the fence, expecting his parents to be there.
His parents weren’t there, and he scanned the stands looking for them.
He wasn’t sure how many times he looked row by row for his parents and brother.
They missed another one.
“Colt come on man we gotta break down the field.”
****************************************
It was about 2:30 in the afternoon when Onyonkapon dropped Colt off. During the drive home the excitement from his game winning homerun was replaced with sadness and disappointment.
“I’m home.” He called out as he took his shoes off and walked into the kitchen.
“Colt keep your voice down. Your brother is taking a nap.” His mom said as she loaded the dishwasher.
“It’s not like he is a toddler.” He muttered under his breath.
His mom either didn’t hear him or chose to ignore his comment. “Make sure you put your dirty clothes in the laundry room.”
Not even going to ask me about the game.
He walked back into the kitchen, not sure why he was starting to become more annoyed as the minutes ed.
“Did you eat with the team?”
“Yeah”
“Good, it has been a bit of a rough morning here.”
“Colt you’re home. How did the game go?” His dad asked as he came in from the living room. “I hate that we had to miss it.”
“It was on the radio.” Colt said flatly.
“Well, we were going to go but as we were getting ready Fal-“
“Falco what? Cut a scrape, had a runny nose…”
“Colt!” His mom said with a look of shock on her face.
“He fainted, Colt. So, the doctor said that it would be best for us to stay home and for him to get some rest.” His dad said.
Colt rolled his eyes. “Go figure.”
“Colt we couldn’t leave him alone.”
“You guys can’t get Aunt Kathryn to watch him or Grandmom?”
“You know it’s not that simple Falco needs-“
“I know!” Colt shouted, cutting his dad off.
“Falco is special, Falco needs this, this happened to Falco, make sure Falco is taken care of!”
“Colt lower your voice” His mom said.
“Oh right can’t wake up precious Falco, but f*ck our other son. Who cares if we miss his games, or beta club induction, or his band concert. Who the f*ck cares!”
“Colt what has gotten into you!?” His dad whisper shouted.
“I was one of the few freshmen to make the varsity baseball team this year and you guys haven’t been to a single game! You were only at 3 of my football games this season…”
“Colt we are trying…” his mom began.
“You aren’t trying hard enough. Falco sneezes and you guys drop everything you are doing! I am so sick of this being the Falco show and I’m just a side character! It’s like I could disappear and nothing would change!”
“Colt, you know that’s not true” His dad said, taking a step towards him.
“Bullsh*t! I could drop dead tomorrow, and it wouldn’t matter!”
“Colt-“
“You know, I wish Falco had just been born normal or not born at all!” He shouted and stormed out of the kitchen.
His mom broke down sobbing as she heard the front door slam.
**************************************************
“Colt didn’t know I was sitting on the top of the stairs.” Falco said as he and Porco headed towards a wooded area.
“You heard it all?”
Falco nodded. “He wasn’t wrong though. My parents always overreact. I mean I didn’t even really faint. I got dizzy and fell back down on my bed. I was out for maybe ten seconds at most. Yet my parents were ready to go to the hospital but I’m glad that they called my doctor first. Funny enough, my parents and I got into a fight because I still wanted to go to the game.”
“You’re his biggest fan huh?”
Falco smiled, “I also kinda live through him a bit.”
“Colt didn’t know that I had been listening to the game when I was supposed to be sleeping. As soon as I heard him come in, I was going to go downstairs to celebrate with him but then I heard him start shouting…”
They went further into the woods.
“Falco I’m sure he didn’t mean it”
Falco laughed, stepping over a log. “I know he didn’t, and I don’t blame him for getting upset. Mom and Dad have missed a lot of his life because of me. I’m hoping now that I got myself a second chance…we can start being a normal family.”
“Falco, I hate to break it to you, but there is no such thing as a normal family.”
“I think I just want my parents to treat me like a regular kid. Not some who might break if you look at him wrong. I want my mom and Colt to get along again.”
Porco felt a pang of guilt. “You know, I want me and my mom to get along again too.”
“You guys don’t?”
Porco shook his head, as he pushed a branch out of his way.
“Marcel was the golden child in her eyes. He was good at well…everything. It’s like she was expecting me to be a carbon copy of him.”
“Well, that’s stupid.” Falco said.
“Tell that to my mom. Growing up we butted heads so much because I wasn’t perfect like Marcel was. I didn’t get all A’s, I was ok at football, I failed my learner’s permit test twice. It didn’t really get better after he died either. The pressure has only gotten stronger; it’s like my mom expects me to just take his place or something. I just…I wish he were still here.”
Falco stopped walking.
Porco looked back at him, he was staring at his feet.
Porco started to panic.
Oh god what if he is having some sort of medical emergency.
Falco let out a sniffle.
Oh no he is crying. F*ck why did I have to stick my foot in my mouth.
“Oh my god Falco I didn’t mean it like that I swear. I was just talking, and it just slipped out.”
Falco lifted his head. His eyes glassy.
“I’m sorry Falco.” Porco said gently as he moved closer to Falco.
“It’s ok. It’s not like I haven’t thought about it myself.” He said quietly. “You have every right to miss your brother no matter what the circumstances are.”
Porco looked at Falco with a mix of sadness and disbelief.
For being a kid he’s more mature than some of the adults I know.
Porco put his hands on Falco’s shoulders.
“You’re right, I…I really miss my brother, but I am so grateful that through his ing you were able to get another shot at life. If you want to honor his memory, the first thing you must do is let go of any guilt you feel.”
Porco realized had started to tear up as well. “Marcel would be happy to know that he was able to help people, even after he was gone.”
Falco suddenly wrapped his arms around Porco, letting out small sobs.
Porco pulled him into a hug and for a moment, he felt like he wasn’t he and Falco weren’t the only ones in the woods. He felt this sudden sense of needing to protect Falco, to get him to stop being sad. He felt like a big brother.
The sound of twigs snapping caused Porco to turn around.
“Marcel?”
Instead, Colt came through the trees.
“Who is Marcel?”
Comment