Summer fun...

The last three days have been a blur. A few nights ago, I volunteered to keep score for a Little League baseball doubleheader. My husband was out of town on business and I did not want to leave our seven year old home to be babysat by our oldest - he can be a bit of a handful. Luckily, he loves baseball and was eager to go with me. I explained to him about volunteering and why it is important to do things for others without getting paid. We got to the field and I found my place on the solid metal bench, in full sun and 110 degrees.  The wind was blowing, so it felt a bit like being baked inside a convection oven. But, I loved every scorching minute of it. Colton loved it too and immediately found another young boy to play with.  The umpires put them in charge of foul balls and fetching water bottles. While they waited for fouls, the boys played with a small bat and ball, using their caps as mitts, catching fly balls. What could be better for little boys in summer?

While I kept score and visited with the other people working the game, Colton stayed busy with his "job". He was off with the crack of the bat to gather up the many fouls during the 15 innings we were there.  At the very end of the second game, Colton hit the wall. It was 10 PM and we'd been there for 5 hours - he with no dinner.  He had wanted me to buy him a hot dog from the concession stand, but they had nothing.  He settled for a bag of sunflower seeds and some Skittles. After 5 hours of playing baseball and chasing foul balls, he was hungry. He came up and sat beside me, completely drained, which is extremely rare. The gal doing the announcing thought he was the cutest thing, which he is and, using this to his advantage, tried to persuade her to announce that the game is over.  "Just tell everyone that it's late and Chik Fil A is across the street," he told her. He was done.

It was the bottom of the 8th inning and the score was tied.  The home team was batting and with a runner on third, they executed a text-book-perfect suicide squeeze - the runner broke hard on the pitch and the batter laid down a beautiful bunt.  The runner scored before they could field the ball and the game was over. Colton, who loves baseball and watches every day, had never seen such a play.  He was fascinated, despite his extreme hunger.  

As we gathered ourselves to leave, an older man from the winning team found Colton and emptied his pocket change into Colton's little hand, telling him what fun it was to watch him run barefoot all over the field collecting balls.  Colton beamed with pride and told me, "I got paid. You told me we were volunteering, but I got paid."  We thanked the nice gentleman and headed across the street so he could eat.  It was after 10, so his first choice was closed.  We ended up next door, where I could get him a quick burger. As we were standing in line, Colton wanted to replay the winning run so he understood how it happened.  "Why would they do a scrunch play?  When does the coach know the best time to scrunch in a runner?"  He asked.

"It's not scrunch, honey, it's a squeeze play." I explained while I laughed.  He ate, we visited and then headed home.  I was grateful for the opportunity to enjoy some really fun one-on-one time with a great little boy who goes a hundred miles an hour and always makes me laugh. Life is good!