From the first time she picked up a softball bat, Kayla has loved team games of any stripe. Now in her mid-forties, though, she is starting to come to the bitter realization that like all good things, her involvement in team sports must come to an end one day, whether she’s ready or not. When her broomball teammates start making noises about this being their final season together, Kayla sets her sights on capturing the league championship. What better way to remind them of how much fun it can be to win? The prospect of snagging the league title seems brighter with the addition of a new player, Val, who Kayla would like to get to know better. That is, if her meddlesome ex Abby will stay out of the picture long enough. Will winning the championship be enough to bring Kayla’s teammates back for one more season? If not, what can she do about it?

Curtain Call

Normally, I’d have put down my broom to cushion the pass. But instead, I let the ball hit my right foot and skitter away. I watched, as though in slow motion, as Betty raised her broom to chest height and crunched Val into the boards.


Then I ran over to my fallen teammate at top speed.


I was the first one to reach Val’s side, but soon found myself with a lot of company. Surrounded by a circle of worried faces, I bent over the fallen winger.


“Uh—I’m okay, I think.” Though Val tried to keep her voice steady, I detected a hint of hesitancy.


I shot a glare at Betty, who stood nearby, shifting from one foot to another. Anger yielded to resignation. It was clear from Betty’s facial expression that she hadn’t intended to injure


Chapter 7