The big game

HIGH SCHOOL DAYS..

"Mom? Is Dad going home today?" Queen ask her mother. She sat on her seat on their dining table for breakfast.

"I'm afraid not dear he just call to say the convention he attended is extended for a day or two." Her mother answered facing her back to her continue stirring the fried rice in front of the stove. "Why? You need anything from him? I can text him if you want."

"No Mom it's OK. I know how busy he is." She said propping her sad face in the table.

"Hey pretty girl what's with the sad face this early in the morning?" It was her Uncle Charles. Her mother's younger and only brother. He's just six years older than her. Her mother and him have twelve years of age gap.

"Morning Sis!! What's with our dear Queen today?" She heard her Uncle asked to her mom.

"She's asking for her Dad but sadly he can't go home today." Her mother answered placing the food on the table.

"I see.." He playfully shoved her hand away from her face which make her face fall and almost kiss the table.

"What the!!!!.. Uncle!!!!"

"C'mon.. Cheer up! It's your big game today isn't it? Guess what?" I have good news for you~~"

"What is it?" She asked with a scowl on her face.

"You're coach can't make it today to be in your game."

"What????!!! Are you kidding me Uncle?!! That's not good news at all!!" She whined. Well actually it doesn't matter anyway. She's not in the mood now to participate later. Her Dad promised her he and her mom will watch her big game.

"Hey relax… Since Ian can't make it.. I will be there in his place instead." Her Uncle happy announced. Ian is her coach in baseball and a best buddy of his Uncle. They're both varsity players before on the same sport she's into now. Ian is known as the reliable team captain while her Uncle is the ace of the team.

"Good luck then." She said in not interested tone.

"Hey… Hey… Queencie Kaye Navarro!! Don't tell me you're not going to take this game seriously?! You're going to lose your scholarship if they found out you didn't participate well."

Queen didn't answer. She just continue eating her breakfast. She feel a warm hand on her head then gently stroking her long hair. No need to look who is it. It was her mother who always do the to her.

"Dear.. I know you're Dad promise you that we will watch your game together. Believe me if your dad have a choice he will go there and cheer for you as a proud dad." She said softly to her then cupped her face. "Don't be sad. I'm still here. Mom will watch how her baby and I know you will do your best to make us proud right dear?" Her mother brushes her nose on hers.

Queen smile. Her mother really knows how to make her feel better in times like this. Her mother is a simple housewife while her father do all the hard work to earn for their living. She remembers when she's still a little kid. She rarely have her father in their home. Sometimes he just visited them once a week, every other week and the worst is just once a month.

She never complained about it because whenever her is home, he always makes sure that they will spend the day bonding together as one happy family. Every time her father will go again on the following day, He keeps on telling her that.

"Queen.. Even if Dad is not always with you. Always remember you're my most precious little angel and Dad always loves you and your Mom. Take care of yourself and your mom okay?"

But everything changed when her Dad took them with her mom in the city. Her dad always comes home to them. Although he always comes home late, he make sure that his whole weekends are for them. At least she can see him every morning and in the evening before she sleeps.

"Finish your food Queen. We need to go early." Her Uncle's voice made her snapped. She quickly finished her food and grab all her things in her room. Her Uncle is already waiting on his secondhand car that her Dad gave him when he entered college.

"You're coming right mom?" She said hugging her.

"Of course dear. I'll be there to support you. Do your best OK?"

"I will mom.." She kisses her mom. "See yah!!"

______________

The field where the championship tournament between the four biggest and prestigious school is so huge and wide that really amazed Queen. The game is far from the time it announced to start and yet the seats are all taken. Queen can't help but feel nervous when she saw how many people come to watch the game. But then suddenly felt sad when she remembers something.

"I wish Dad can watch too." She said to herself. She looked around her teammates. All of them have their both parents on their side. Others are not just parents but bring their whole family instead.

"KAYE!!!!!" Someone calls her. Queen look at the way where it came from. Kaye is her name in school. Queen is her pet name in their house. She saw her two beautiful best friends who's wearing the same uniform as her. They aren't really players but they have a VIP pass because of their family sponsored the events. They are also her classmates.

"Bea!!! Ivy!!!" She ran on them and hug them tightly. Then she saw their parents behind them. Queen feel a tiny pain inside her but choose to ignore it. She greeted her friend's family to be exact.

"Good afternoon Uncles and Aunties!! Nice to see you here."

"Oh.. Our Kaye of course we can't let missed your big game." Ivy's mom said.

"I can't believe there's more people watching today than our game before!! Hey shortie!! Make our team proud, ok? How I wish I can still play. It's like an old times." Said by Ivy's Eldest brother. He is one of her Uncle's teammates before.

"You're damn right on that bro!! You know… That feeling of lots of people watching you is so…" it was now Bea's elder brother who spoke. He is also a former varsity player of their school.

"I know how you feel bro!! What's up!! It's been a long time buddy!!!" It was her Uncle who just came after the little meeting with the organizers of the game together with other coaches.

"Charles!!! Geez dude you are the one who's hiding on us. You never show your ass every time we have the group get together!!!."

__________

"Looks like all our senior players are here." Bea said while looking around. Since there's still a lot of time before the match starts, they decided to go on the field to try some batting for Queen.

"Yeah it looks like. But wait! I can't see coach Ian where is he?"

"He can't make it today. There's an emergency that needs his attention." Queen answered while doing some stretching. She wears her playing uniform. She made sure that her chest binder is intact. and put on her baseball cup. She hides her hair on the cup so it won't be in her way while she's playing.

When they reach the field, there are lots of students from different schools who do some warm up. She ran towards her teammates. When her team leader saw her he immediately toss the bat on her. She immediately catches it.

"C'mon Kaye let's show them what you got."