The Hitting Zone-Novel

Chapter 311 Angels in the Outfield

"Jake? Jake. Jake, wake up." An annoying buzz sounded too close to my ear. I tried brushing it off. "Jake! Come on, wake up! Mom and Dad already left for work."

My eyes opened slowly as I tried to rub the sleep away. I found Noah by my bedside, already dressed and ready for the day. I blinked. "How did I get in bed?" The last thing I remember is the A’s trying to extend their win streak and GM Billy Beane going to the stadium to watch.

"You fell asleep so Dad carried you to bed. You didn’t even move. You must have been tired after playing two full games." He smirked. "Zeke said your endurance is still lacking."

"My endurance is always lacking." I groaned, rolling off the bed. I stood up and stretched. I was sore from yesterday’s playing. Taking a week off from practice probably wasn’t the best for me.

Noah laughed as my face scrunched up with every step I took and move I made. "Come on. Mom prepared breakfast before she left. She instructed me to make sure you ate your fill. We can eat in the living room while watching the movie."

"The movie?"

"Yea, the ’Angels in the Outfield.’ Remember?"

"Yea, yea I remember." Noah thought it was weird that his family didn’t want to watch it last night, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized we could be overthinking. They said it was an older movie so it makes sense that they would like something newer. And ’Moneyball’ was like an introduction to the A’s for me even though the players will be completely different.

Noah told me to get dressed and to meet him in the living room before running out. I settled on sweats and a T-shirt before going down myself. As I came down the stairs, I heard the twins talking to one another near the back sliding door. I slowed down to take a listen.

"Noah said he’s starting the movie, do you think we should go interrupt or something?" Kyle asked.

"Nah. It’s fine." Dave replied. "I rather go play in the backyard. Dad and I already set it up and tried it out. It’s like live feedback for a strike zone. We don’t have to take turns playing catcher with it."

"I know, I want to play with it too! But..." Kyle lowered his voice yet I could still hear. "Won’t the movie make Jake think about it? Mom told me not to say anything until they know more."

"Bro, it’s just a movie. Don’t look too much in it." Dave brushed his worries off. "If you’re so worried, tell Zeke. He’ll know what to do."

"Zeke just left for a run." Kyle sighed.

"Then go watch it with them. Either way, I’m going to the backyard."

"Alright, maybe I’ll just peek in on them to see if anything pops up."

"Okay, worrywart." They parted ways. I could hear the sliding door open and then heard it close. Meanwhile Kyle’s footsteps were distinguishable as he was the only one moving downstairs.

I waited a couple of minutes, still digesting what I had heard. Just a few minutes ago, I was thinking that I was overthinking and now I’m thinking that I’m not thinking enough. Noah knew what he was talking about. He knew his family best, after all. He noticed their weird looks and feelings about watching that movie, but I had brushed it off after a night of sleep. Now, I have to watch this movie closely. Like there would be a pop quiz afterwards.

I hurried downstairs just in time to see Kyle leaving the living room. He smiled. "Morning. I just spoke with Noah, he had brought your breakfast so you can eat and watch the movie."

But would eating distract me? I nodded and tried to return the smile. "Okay, thanks."

"Maybe after you’re done with the movie, we can go to the cages. Noah looked horrible at the plate yesterday." He continued. "Or hey, we can even go to the park and play a game on the empty field."

Now he was looking suspicious. I shrugged. "I’m okay with whatever." Only after I watch the movie. And dissect it with Noah.

Kyle smiled brighter. "Great, I’ll be in the back with Dave. Let us know if you guys need anything." He walked across the room and headed for the back sliding door.

Only after I heard it open, then shut, did I go into the living room. "Did you hear Kyle?"

Noah sat on the ground in front of the couch with food spread out like a buffet. "I heard. He came in and told me something similar. I think we’re onto something."

"We are!" I nodded and sat near him. "I heard him and Dave talking just a bit earlier. Kyle doesn’t want us to watch!" I quickly gave him a rundown of the brief conversation I heard.

Noah’s eyes shined with enlightenment. "So we’re already on the right path. Let’s watch it." He grabbed the remote and was about to push play, but then stopped to look at me. "Aren’t you going to start eating?"

I shook my head. "What if that distracts me?"

Noah rolled his eyes. "I’m here. We both have a pair of eyes. It’ll be fine. We’ll look like the suspicious ones if one of them comes and sees that you haven’t ate."

True. I looked at the spread before and decided to start with a plate of scrambled eggs. I’d be upset if I had to eat them cold. Noah handed me a fork and I started to dig in, trying to keep my eyes on the screen while not losing the food I would scoop up.

The movie ’Angels in the Outfield’ was about a boy in the foster care being able to see real angels helping the poor-performing California Angels with baseball plays. He and his friend, who was also in the system, would sneak into games and was eventually discovered as a ’good luck charm’ by the coach. What really stuck with me though, was his dad. His real dad. His dad would rarely visit only to give his son false hope. When he finally permanently gave up his parental rights, I didn’t feel sad for the kid. I felt happy for him. He wasn’t going to be held back or held in limbo. The real highlight of the movie came at the end when the Coach adopts him and his best friend for a happily ever after.

I looked to Noah as the credits rolled. "Well? What are your first thoughts..?"

"I see a lot of things that could make you upset so maybe let’s break it down?" Noah shrugged. "Like the dad giving up his parental right...would you be upset like Roger?"

I scratched my head. "Honestly, I think I relate more with J.P. He’s quiet and shy, and there aren’t any parents for him. I don’t know if I’d be upset if my dad showed up or happy that he would sign his rights away."

"I can see that."

"See what?" A deep voice made us jump, scattering some of the breakfast. We looked to the doorway and saw a sweaty Zeke standing, looking down at us. "You guys better clean that up."

"We know." Noah replied and already started to stack the empty plates. "We just finished watching the movie." He froze, then looked up to Zeke. "We were just wandering why you guys didn’t want Jake to watch it last night."

Zeke’s facial expression didn’t change. "We already said ’Moneyball’ would make everyone happy."

"But we’ve already seen it a dozen times. Shouldn’t we let Jake pick? He never watches movies."

Zeke glanced down at me, then back to Noah. "Mom and Dad probably didn’t want him to see the scene where the dad signs his rights away forever. Wouldn’t that be a little heartless for Jake to see? Jake, who already doesn’t have a mom to count on."

Noah stayed quiet for a second longer than I expected. I glanced at him, then looked up to Zeke. "I’m okay. I never knew him anyways. In the movie, the kid already knew who his dad was and already had bonds. I don’t. I can barely remember his face. Maybe."

Zeke gave me time to add to my statement, but I thought that was enough. "Okay then. I’m going to shower. Do you guys want to go to the cages?"

Noah looked at him with suspicion. Mine too. Everyone seemed keen to have us go to the cages. Is that because they want to? Want us to? Or want to distract us?

"Some of the guys are going too. You either do or you don’t." Zeke waved and left the doorway. We could hear him jog up the stairs.

I looked to Noah. "Are we going?"

"Sure! Why not? It’s not like they know that we already know." Noah got up, holding dirty plates.

"But we don’t know..?"

"But we do know something is up." Noah looked where Zeke had stood. "Maybe it really is something about your dad. Maybe they found him and he doesn’t want you." Noah looked at me with concern. "Wait. That’s not what I meant."

"No, it’s okay." I stood up, grabbing the leftover food. "My dad didn’t want me to begin with. He never came back as he left. No calls, no cards, no meetings. I was three when he left so it’s not like he was never in my life." And he took my brother. So it’s not like he didn’t want kids. He just...didn’t want me. "I came to terms with it."

Noah sighed. He walked over and rested a hand on my shoulder. "That’s good then. We’ll bug Kyle about what he knows. I say our best bet is it’s about your dad. Since it’s something that may upset you. And it’s not something Mom and Dad would share with me since I would share it with you."

I smiled. "Thanks." Noah always had my back. Even when it came to his family. And mine. I never thought I would want a brother after I realized mine wouldn’t ever come back.

We spent the rest of the day at the cages and arcade, eating pizza with almost half the team. It wasn’t like we got distracted, but...we never got around to interviewing Kyle. There was just too many guys around, too much food, and too much fun. I don’t speak with the guys very much, but at the cages I felt like I belonged more than I ever did on the field. On the field...I felt like an imposter. Or a charity case.