Chapter 15

Tonight they were still on baseball, and Jarrett and Jory were helping Mark cobble together the storied Girls’ League career of Johnny Bench’s less famous sister, Sittana.

“What kinda name is that?”

“You don’t remember Sittana Bench?” Mark feigned surprise.

“Well, that was her maiden name.” Even though he’d heard his key in the door and his footsteps in the hall, Mark started at the sound of Starr’s voice.

“Pops!” the boys chorused.

He stepped into the room and sat on the side of Jarrett’s bed. “She married Carl Andrest,” he went on. “He was a very famous furniture salesman.”

Mark laughed. “One of oh-so-many famous furniture salesmen.”

“Exactly. She hyphenated, naturally. Like your daddy and me.”

“Sittana Bench-Andrest?” Jarrett played along.

“So you doremember?”

“Only one player ever hit a home run harder than she did,” Mark said.

“Who?” Jarrett asked.

“Who do you think?”

His eye brightened and he lunged for Starr’s hand. “Oh man, Pops, he means me.”