Rounding Third (9 page)

    
Rob stopped breathing as the pitcher delivered another bean-ball. Josh hit the
dirt again. Beechler leapt off the bench, but Coach Milnes yelled at him to sit
down while Hudson stormed up to the home plate ump. The catcher tried to argue
it was an accident. The ump wasn’t buying it and ejected the pitcher.

    
During the pitching change, Hudson came straight to Rob. “I heard the warning
you gave Schlagel. You knew it was coming?”

“The second one, yeah.”

“If you see that again, call time and tell
me.” Rob nodded. “He’s not going to get away with that. After the game, I’m
going to have a talk with the ump and their coach.” Rob turned, but the Coach
called him back. “Wardell. Good job.”

 The Catholic team sparked a rally and Renko, catching, had
to chase an overthrown ball. Josh covered the plate and waited for the ball and
runner. The runner was a huge guy who made Buff Beechler look small. Since it
was obviously the opposition’s goal to kill or maim the Hawk’s ace pitcher, Rob
tensed as the freight train roared home.

 “Schlagel, move!” Hudson yelled.

    
Josh didn’t budge. “Move! Let him score!” the Coach yelled again.

    
“Move!” Rob screamed and rushed to the fence to watch. Just before the crash,
Rob closed his eyes and listened for the impact.

           
When Rob opened his eyes, Hudson
was running towards the cloud of dust at the plate. Josh was flat on his back.
The other player was on top of him and Josh still held the ball.

    
“Out!” the umpire called.

The opposing player stuck a fist into Josh’s
chest and pushed off to get up.

    
Hudson and Renko helped Josh up. They looked him over and he took a moment to
check all of his moving parts. They seemed to be intact. Hudson yelled, “Don’t
ever pull a stupid stunt like that again. I seen mules with more sense. When I
tell you to move, move. That run isn’t worth losing you.”

    
Josh nodded. “Yes, sir,” and walked back to the mound.

    
As Rob boarded the bus after Josh’s win, he felt a hand swat the seat of his
pants. Rob was afraid to turn around until he heard Josh’s voice, “Thanks for
keeping me from getting my head knocked off.”

    
Rob was two steps above Josh and turned around and patted him on the head.
“It’s a nice head and we might need it to make the playoffs.”

    
Josh smiled. “So, are you ready to face the music?”

         
*                     
*                     
*                     
*                     
*

As Josh drove to his house,
Rob said, “I thought he was going to kill
you.”

“I have been hit by bigger guys. I play
football remember? I’ve been on pass patterns across the middle and gotten
sandwiched between two guys that size. I survived.”

Rob winced at the thought.

“I’m not saying I’m not going to hurt tomorrow, but I knew I
could take it.”

Rob reached into his pocket, pulled out Meg’s
gold cross and hooked its chain around his neck. Josh glanced over. It took him
a moment to catch on. He smiled.

As they drove down White Tail Lane into Quail
Run Woodlands, Rob noticed all of the houses were made to look slightly
different, which made them all look that much more the same. The basketball
hoop hanging over the Schlagel’s driveway was a temporary plastic one on a
stand. Most of the houses had similar appendages. Mat was shooting hoops and
paused to wish Rob luck.

“I’m home,” Josh announced, opening the door.

His mother entered the room. She was a small
woman, 

Rob’s
height, but she had a fierceness in her eyes that Rob lacked. She looked ready
for a fight, maybe with Rob, maybe with the world.

    
“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Schlagel,” Rob said with more than adequate politeness.

“
You’re
on the team?” Her question was
an accusation.

    
“One of our most valuable guys,” Josh answered. “Again today, he stole the
other team’s signs. He kept me from getting beaned.”

She shot Josh a look that told him the
question was not his to answer. “You played those Catholics today, didn’t you?”
She said
Catholics
the way someone might say
prostitute.

    
“Yes, ma’am,” Josh answered.

“It’s not surprising. That’s what you should
expect from people who aren’t Christian.” Rob thought Catholics were Christian,
but now he wasn’t sure. She went on, “They are an evil cult. They shouldn’t be
allowed to play or live near normal people.” Now Rob was really confused. He
didn’t know much about other religions. Hell, he didn’t know much about his
own, but he was pretty sure the Catholics were a pretty big group. “They are
evil, evil people,” she said. “That’s why their priests sleep with boys.” She
turned on Rob, “You steal signs?” she demanded.

    
“They won’t let me steal bases, so I have to steal signs,” Rob smiled. She
narrowed her eyes. Clearly her question was not meant to be taken lightly.
“It’s a big part of the game,” he added, not sure why a woman whose son had
played as much ball as Josh had wouldn’t know that.

“When
you’re on the bench, you have lots of time to notice things,” he continued.

    
“At your size, I’m not surprised you don’t play.” She made him a few inches
shorter.

    
“As it says in First Samuel,” Rob said,
“...the Lord said to Samuel, do not
consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does
not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but
the Lord looks at the heart.
”

Her eyes widened. Josh, standing beside his
mother, beamed an approving smile at his friend.

“Where does your family go to church?” she asked.

Rob wondered if she had done police
interrogations

before
becoming a mother. “We’re Methodists,” he answered.

    
“Methodists.” She said it the way one might say
Tartars
or
Berbers
or some foreign group of which one has heard but about which one knows little
or nothing.

“We go to Christ Methodist on Highland
Avenue.” He didn’t mention how often they went.

“Methodists,” she said again, weighing the
word as though it might give her the value of the people it represented.

“I think what church you go to doesn’t
matter,” Rob said. “I like what it says in Deuteronomy:
But if from there
you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your
heart and with all your soul
.”

Josh’s mouth twisted as one corner went up
and the other went down as he stifled a grin.

Mrs. Schlagel gave the smallest of nods. “If
you’re on the team,” she said this as though she still wasn’t sure she believed
it, “You must know Daniel? Such a sweet boy,” she said. “And so handsome. You
can tell Christ is in him.”

Rob wondered if she was now talking about the
Danny he knew. He didn’t remember any Bible stories about Christ persecuting
the meek.

“Daniel comes over often. One of Joshua’s few
Christian friends. I can see you read your bible. Do you and Daniel ever have a
chance to discuss the scriptures at practice?”

Rob was about to try to BS an answer to that
question when two of the younger Schlagels ran into the room.

Josh caught the smaller of the two and swept
her into his arms. “This is Gabriella,” he said, holding her so Rob could see.

“Hi,” Rob said.

“This is my friend, Rob,” Josh said. “And the
other one is Micah.”

“Hi,” Rob said again, extending his hand to
the boy.

“Children, you know you are not to carry on in
the living room,” Mrs. Schlagel scolded. “Go back to your rooms. Your father
will deal with you later.”

Terror filled Micah’s eyes. Josh set his
sister down. “They were just...”

“Joshua.”

Josh fell silent and swallowed. “I need to
get ready for my date,” Josh said.

His mother gave him another stern look. “We
will talk about your disrespect later.”

Josh walked Rob to the door. Rob offered to
run home and save Josh the trip. The instant Rob was outside with the door closed
behind him, he could hear the mother’s voice raised. Rob was frozen to his
spot, half expecting to hear a slap any moment.

“Don’t,” Mathias said, taking a shot at the
basket. Rob looked at him. “It goes on all the time here. Best to ignore it.”
Mat shot a basket. “How did it go?”

“The word of the Lord shall be my salvation.
I did my homework. I think I passed. Probably got a D, but I passed.”

Mat laughed and put up another shot. “Josh
said you were the smartest guy on the team.”

11
               

    
As practice was wrapping up after school, Josh said quietly to Rob, “I can’t
give you a ride today,” then hurried off. Rob was hoping to see how Josh
thought he’d done with his mother or if Josh had gotten in trouble for
contradicting her. Rob also realized he had come to really enjoy his talks with
Josh and missed not talking to him all day.

    
Rob did his quick rinse and hit the road. As he passed Quail Run he decided
he’d take a loop around the complex. He turned down White Tail Lane and only
took a few steps when he saw Josh’s car in the Schlagel’s driveway. Next to it
was Danny Taylor’s Jeep. Rob turned and ran back the way he had come but at a
much faster pace until he got home.

    
As he turned into the driveway he saw Meg and Ashley shooting baskets. Knowing
how much Ashley hated anything that even remotely resembled sports, he knew
this must be a set-up for Ashley to see Josh.

    
“Hi,” Meg said, trying too hard to sound casual.

    
“Meg. Ash.” Rob said curtly.

    
Ashley’s look made it clear she wasn’t there to chitchat with him. “Where’s
Josh?” she demanded. “Meg said Josh Schlagel gives you rides home.” She looked
from brother to sister with eyes that branded them both liars.

    
“I wanted to run home,” Rob answered. “Did you want me to play some basketball
with you?” Ashley gave him another look to freeze the sun. “Didn’t think so,”
he said and started toward the house.

    
“Where is Josh?” Meg asked.

    
“Why don’t you ask him?” Rob answered without looking back.

    
As soon as he was inside, he dashed upstairs to drown himself in the shower. He
knew he shouldn’t have expected to compete with Danny Taylor for anything: a
spot on the team, Josh’s friendship, or the acceptance of Mrs. Schlagel. He was
0-for-three. His father’s banging on the bathroom door beckoned him to another
dinner where he’d have to play defense until he could retreat to his room.

    
The next day at school, Rob was hoping not to have to see Josh between classes,
but either he was too slow or Josh was too fast and Josh, who was with Jenny,
said, “Hey, Rob!” with too much cheer just as Rob was hoping to escape.

    
“Hi,” Rob said as a barely audible breath.

    
“This is Jenny,” Josh said proudly. “Jenny, this is Rob.”

    
“Hi,” she said, extending her hand.

    
“Hi,” he said, barely shaking it.

    
“Rob and I went to grade school together,” Jenny said.

    
“I have to get to class,” Rob said, turning away.

    
“See you at the game,” Josh called after him.

    
Rob wasn’t able to do anything to prevent Bloomington from handing the Hawks
their second defeat of the season. They boarded the bus for what was going to
be a long ride home--not because of the distance, which was only about eight
miles, but because of the mood. In passing Rob’s seat, Josh said, “I’ll give
you a ride if you want.”

    
“Don’t bother,” Rob answered.

    
Rob did his quick rinse and headed out the locker room door. Josh was waiting
in his car. “Hey,” he said.

    
“Hey.”

    
“Hop in.” Josh threw the passenger door open in a way that really didn’t leave
an option so Rob got in. “What’s up?” Josh asked.

    
“Nothing. You didn’t shower?”

    
“No.”

    
“Did your dad whip you for the other night?”

    
“Do we have to talk about it?”

    
“No. Sorry.” They rode in silence for a few blocks. “What did your mom say?”

    
Josh turned and smiled at him. “She’s still skeptical, but I think you did okay
on the midterm.”