Page 155 of Home Field Advantage
This is my team.
“Listen, I know we didn’t win our first game, and that’s okay. We can’t win them all.”
“Yes, we can,” Archie cuts in. “We have what it takes.”
“I agree with you, but when it comes down to it, we may lose some, and I want everyone to know that’s okay, too. But I love your energy, bud.”
“We got this,” Sage shouts.
“We do,” I agree, smiling at my little girl who’s loving this game as much as I always have. “If you all play the way you have over the last few months, I have no doubt we can win this one. Besides, we’re at our home field.”
“Duh. We play here every week.” Ethan says.
“Exactly.” I laugh. “Which means we know how this field works. We know every patch of dirt, every weird bounce the ball can take, and the way the sun glares. This field is ours and belongs to us. So do you know what that means?
“We don’t have to pay for hot dogs at the food cart?” Ethan says.
“No.” Archie smacks the back of his hand against his arm. “It means we have the home field advantage.”
“I still don’t get it, but okay,” Ethan agrees.
“It means we can win this,” I tell them. “When you play where you belong, you fight harder. You play like you have the whole town behind you. And guess what?”
“What?” they all shout in unison.
“Youdohave the whole town behind you. We’re up by one point, and if they don’t score, we win. Now let’s show them what a home field advantage looks like.”
“Yes! Let’s win!” they all shout in a half-organized cheer.
There are so many reasons beyond this one that make this field feel like home. And when I look over to the benches and bleachers we added before the season started, I see it.
I see her.
I came to Bluestone Lakes to figure things out and connect with my daughter. I never expected to meet someone who made me feel like I had been missing something all along.
This was only supposed to be temporary.
But then I saw Poppy laugh. Then she taught me how to braid my daughter’s hair. She kept ice cream on hand for Sage and brought her puzzles because she knew she loved them. She opened up to me in a way that made me feel like we can trust each other.
I eye the crowd, and seated on the right side of one of the benches is my ex-wife and her boyfriend. Nathan and April have been seeing each other since before they decided to move right outside of Bluestone Lakes to a town called Bonneville. Nathan opened an OB-GYN practice where he and April will take turnsworking between there and the hospital. They’ll commute every few days, but we’ve all fallen into a practice of doing what’s best for Sage.
Sage has acclimated to the changes so well. She loves having two rooms at two different houses. The only thing she was adamant about was continuing school with her new friends in Bluestone Lakes.
Seated next to my ex-wife and her boyfriend sits Poppy. It’s like they’ve been best friends forever. She’s in the bottom seat in the bleachers, wearingmyjersey. A San Francisco Staghorns jersey with my last name and number on the back from when I was the starting pitcher.
Every time I look at her, I remember thatthisis what home field advantage really means. It means finding where you’re supposed to be.
“Hands in,” I tell the kids, and they all reach into the circle. “Home run on three. One…two…three…”
“Home run!” they all shout before the group of kids filled with chaos and heart take the field.
I’m not worried about the way I used to be when I wanted to win a game more than my next breath. I know deep down, these kids got it in the bag.
I look to Tucker next to me, who looks deep in thought. “You all right?”
He nods, void of his normal fun expressions.
“I know now isn’t the time, but if there’s anything you want to talk about, I’m here.”
