Another Chance

Kindergarten was my haven.

Daniel, my friend from tee ball, was in my class. We did everything together, played at recess, slept next to each other at nap time, and ate snack together.

"Are you coming to practice tonight? Daddy said he's gonna take you to Pizza Hut with us if you want". I wanted to go, I wanted nothing more than to stuff my face with pizza and breadsticks, but I couldn't. Dad wouldn't let me. "I'll ask my dad, but I'll be there. Coach says we're playing the Cougars this weekend". I said, shoving a goldfish in my mouth. "No way! The Cougars have won like, ten championships!" Daniel exclaimed, fear clouding in his brown eyes. "We'll beat 'em, we have Coach, remember?" Daniel nods, but doesn't seem convinced.

That night, Dad called me downstairs. I was rightfully nervous, he hadn't been in a good mood that week. I had a lot of bruises to prove it and I didn't know if he'd be mad at me. But, surprisingly, he was smiling when I got downstairs.

"Why are you all dressed up, Dad?" I asked tentatively. He chuckled and buttoned up his suit jacket. "I have a very special lady coming over and I need to look nice tonight. I want you on your best behavior, alright?" I nodded immediately, terrified of what he'd do if I didn't. I didn't have time to worry very long before the doorbell rang and Dad sprang up to get it.

I nervously walked behind him and peeked to see who it was. It was woman, maybe in her early thirties, with a short curly brown bob and warm green eyes. Light freckles dotted her nose and cheeks, almost hidden behind the dark bronze of her skin. She was beautiful, almost as beautiful as Mom.

"And who is this?" She asked, smiling at me. My face burned red and I tried to hide behind Dad. He put a stop to that and pushed me in front of him. "Hi...um, I'm Aaron" I said nervously, looking at my shoes. I was expecting her to be annoyed by me, but she got down to my level and whispered, "it's okay, I'm nervous too. I'm Melissa and we'll get through it together, okay?" I finally looked up and smiled, my front teeth were missing, so it made for a cute sight. She giggled and offered me her hand, which I took gratefully.

We were in the living room talking when I glanced at the grandfather clock next to the TV. The big hand was pointed at the four and the little hand was pointed at the two. Oh no. Practice started in twenty minutes, but Dad had Melissa over. He'd be mad if I interrupted them for baseball, wouldn't he? Of course he would. But Coach was counting on me. This was one of the last practices until we played the Cougars and Coach said it would be a tough one. I needed to be at practice.

When there was lull in conversation I plucked up the courage to ask him. "Um, Dad?" I asked quietly after he took a sip of wine. He looked at me, his eyes already clouding with annoyance. I didn't have long. "I-I have practice in twenty minutes. We're playing the Cougars this weekend and we need...we need the practice". Dad was silent, which only made my anxiety grow. Melissa broke the tension. "Practice, what do you play, Aaron?"

"Uh, Baseball". Melissa smiled and put her wine glass back on the coffee table and standing up. "Well let's get to this practice then, I've got to see how good you are!" She said excitedly. "Are you sure, Mel, he doesn't have to go". Dad said, standing up to walk over to her. "Of course it's fine, Eric. Based on what you've told me, this will make for an interesting practice". She winked at me and I took that as my cue to go and get dressed.

In the car, Melissa took it upon herself to ask me all types of questions about myself. "What team do you play for?"

"The Falcons". I answered shortly, picking at the seams of my practice shirt. "I heard you're playing the Cougars, are they a good team?"

"Yeah. Coach said that since we've won so many games, that he had to find teams that were older. The Cougars have kids that are going into little league next year. Not tee ball". Melissa nodded along and listened to every word I said. Like she actually wanted to hear it. "Well then you must be pretty good". She concluded, smiling at me again. I smiled back, for the first time in a long time.

Daniel was waiting for me at the dugout with his dad. Mr. Walsh was a tall black man who had the heart of a Golden Retriever. He smiled his huge toothy grin when he saw Melissa and Dad. "Well, Eric. Who's this lady friend?"

"Hello, I'm Melissa Delgado, nice to meet you". Melissa said, shaking hands with the man. Daniel jumped up and down from excitement, but it was mainly his ADHD acting up. "We're eating pizza tonight!" He shouted. This was just how Daniel was, and I kind of loved it. "Yeah, it should be awesome". I replied, looking back up at Dad who looked ready to punch me. "I hope you don't mind Eric, Daniel has been begging me to take him to Pizza Hut. You're welcome to join us, you too Melissa". Melissa beamed and looked at Dad. "That'll be perfect". She said. Dad looked ready to argue, but then said nothing and nodded along with Melissa.

Practice was good. I hadn't thought about Mom leaving in a while and since Melissa got here she's kind of taking my mind off of it. I hit three home runs in practice and I got to work on pitching. We don't pitch until little league, but Coach says I have a good arm and that I should use it. He teaching me how to throw fast balls and curve balls. It'a really fun and I don't notice when practice is over.

Melissa is beaming when we're released to our parents. "You were amazing out there, Aaron! I can't wait to see a game of yours!" She praised, giving me a high five. I smiled wider than I'd ever had since Mom left. Maybe this was my second chance. My second chance at a Mom and Dad. A mom and dad that didn't fight or hit each other and loved each other. I wouldn't mind if Dad hit me as long as Melissa became my new mom and he didn't hit her.

What am I saying? I don't need a new mom. my real mom is alive and she'll be sending me a card soon for April Fools. She said she'd write a card for every holiday.

My thoughts were interrupted by our pizza getting to the table. We all dug in, Dad giving me pointed looks throughout. Keep conversation at a minimum. And never show them your bruises. That's what Dad said the first time he punched me, like he knew it wouldn't be the last time.

Melissa made mild conversation with Mr. Walsh and Daniel, until she noticed me, not saying anything with nothing on my plate. Dad gave me one piece, even though Daniel slapped four down on his plate. So I just ate that piece, 'cause Dad said so. "Aaron, do you want another piece?" Melissa asked me, spatula in hand to scoop up another piece. Dad bore holes into the side of my head. "No thank you, I'm not hungry".

"You sure? You played pretty hard out there". She says, an emotion coming over her features I couldn't quite decipher. "Come on, Slugger, you need the extra fat, you're going to need the muscle when you get to little league". Mr. Walsh commented, winking at me as he put a big piece on my plate. I eyed Dad, but he didn't seem worried anymore. Maybe it's 'cause Mr. Walsh gave me the piece.

Back at the house, Melissa kissed Dad goodbye and then gave me a hug. She gave me another high five. "It was wonderful meeting you, Aaron. I can't wait to see you again". She said with a smile, walking down to her Toyota in the driveway. Dad walked her to the car and I waved goodbye from the porch. As soon as she drove off Dad turned to me. He had a smile on his face when he looked at me, but I knew it wasn't because of me, it was because I had liked Melissa, and she had liked me.

"Next season it's real little league, Max". Sometimes Dad called me Max. Mom said it was because he wanted to name me Maxwell after his Dad, but she won out and got to name me Aaron. "Will Melissa be at the game this weekend?" I asked, following him into the house. "I'm sure if you ask her, she'll give you an answer". He smiled again, and ruffled my hair, mindful of the flinch that happened involuntarily. "You did good today". He said simply, pulling a beer from the fridge. I was so happy, the smile almost broke my face.

I waited so long to hear that. Those words from Dad. He stopped being nice after Mom left, which was like, seven months ago. "Thanks, Dad". But he didn't say anything back, he had turned on a baseball game and was drinking away in his La-Z-Boy recliner.