You made that summer my best ever. 

I can still taste the dirt that came off when I hit you 

I feel like those travel baseball days were just yesterday. 

That 98° summer game under the lights

For the championship. 

Oakton may have lost the game

But they weren’t the big losers of that night. 

The homeowners of the house behind the field were. 

Too late for anyone to come out and fix the shattered patio door.

I’m still surprised they weren’t so angry and that they threw the ball back.

They were the real MVP’s. 

They came over to the field,

 not to yell,

 but congratulate on the win and the walkoff grand slam

And hand me the ball that I hit into their patio. 

After I apologized many, many, many times, 

nothing but joy rushed through me afterwards.

I’m still sorry Mr.Erickson.