Chapter 6: Finding a way and heartfelt talk with Mom

Stephen P.O.V

I woke up feeling soreness all over my body, just getting out of my bed took tremendous effort. Looking at my phone I realize that I had slept for 12 full hours damn I really need to get back in shape I thought making my way to the kitchen even if I was feeling the aftermath of yesterday's training I still need to work on my cardio, I read somewhere that running is as good for cardio than it is good for mental fortitude

When I stepped into the kitchen I noticed a note left from my Mom on the countertop that said ( Stephen I have class this morning but I should be back early in the afternoon there is chicken and rice left from yesterday's dinner if you don't feel like cooking for yourself take care and don't overdo it like yesterday. Love You -xxMomxx- ) I felt a warm current in my heart I think that since I opened up yesterday and shared my feelings with my Mother we got a little closer I was already close to her before but I felt something had changed in our relationship. I don't know why but I took the note and put it in my pocket with the intention of keeping it somewhere in my room after breakfast

Talking about breakfast I was wondering what would be good to get since I still need to do my cardio, I can't eat something heavy well a smoothie should be good I can always eat again after getting running, I opened the fridge and took out 2 eggs, milk, and raspberries grab 1 banana on the counter and took the mixer out from under the kitchen island after putting everything into the mixer I pour my smoothie into a big glass before going back to my room to change into clothes that would feel comfortable running into

Since I wanted to be a pitcher I knew that long-distance running wasn't the best for me of course it wasn't bad either I just needed to find the right balance so ill ran for 1 hour, it should be just right to work on my cardio then I'll do sprints for another hour I thought finishing my smoothie before turning on the treadmill this time I didn't forget to bring water with me 

The first 15 minutes were torture for me but as my muscles warmed up, running became easier. The first hour passed by in no time after a 15-minute break and whipping the sweat off my face with a towel I was ready to start doing my sprints but then I realized there wasn't space here good enough to do sprints, then it struck me my old elementary school did have a track and field behind the school this place was used for running soccer and football and I had made friend with the janitor/guardian when I was studying there maybe he will let me use it. I stepped out of the house bringing with me a 2-liter water bottle and my towel and started walking toward my old elementary school

Walking there took me 20 minutes, and taking a walk after running for an hour gave me the time to recover my stamina while keeping my muscles warm enough to start my sprint training right away. When I stepped onto the school grounds a wave of nostalgia hit me it had been 4 years since the last time I came here I hoped that old Mr.Smith was still working here I thought walking toward the shed at the back of the school Mr.Smith had his own working space in the school but he preferred working here I remember bringing my lunch here and listening Old Smith talking about his younger days this man had so many stories that for all 4 years here I don't recall him telling me the same story twice 

I could hear clanking noises coming from the shed so there was someone in there for sure, hopefully, Old Smith didn't retire I thought knocking on the door 

''Old Smith you there?'' I shout while knocking on the door

The noise inside stopped and 1 minute later I could see him opening the door and looking at me with a questioning gaze

''Who are you what do you want from me?'' asked me Old Smith

''It's me Stephen Rose do you remember me?'' I said to him

'' No way, Little Rose you've grown so big haha, to what do I own this pleasant visit from you young man after all those years?''

''Hehe yeah I'm sorry about that I should have passed by now and then, now I'm feeling bad to tell you why I came here'' I said sheepishly to Old Smith

'' Hahaha I'm messing with you kid, say what you are here for, I'm listening'' said Old Smith while laughing

'' Well I don't have enough space at home to do my sprints and then I recall that there's was a tack field here so I was wondering if you'd let me use it for training I would come here 5 times a week'' I asked him

'' I don't see why you couldn't use it but I must warn you 3 times a week there are little league soccer games and there are football games on weekends so I would suggest you to only come on a weekday'' said Old Smith 

'' Thank you Old man are you working here all summer even if the school is closed?''

''Yes the only vacation I have is on Christmas but I like it that way, if I don't take care of this place for two months straight I would be overwhelmed with work in September, hehe'' said Old Smith with a little laugh at the end

''Say, it has been for years since I heard your stories what do you say that starting tomorrow I'll come here just before lunchtime so we can eat together like we used to do when I was studying here'' I asked him 

'' You do not need to pity this old man little Rose, you know!'' said Old Smith with a wry smile

''It is not pity Old man, something happened to me recently and ... anyway I'll tell you more about this another day it's just that I just realized that you were the only person kind enough to spend your time with a child who had no friends when you clearly could have just ignored me and do your own thing, and I'm really grateful for that and you don't know but allowing me to train here is another huge favor that you are doing for me, so I can only pay you back with this. Anyway, I won't take no for an answer so tomorrow I'm bringing lunch'' I said storming off toward the track field without letting him refuse my offer.

Sprint's training was a lot more draining than I thought. I was short on breath and the muscles in my calves were burning my feet were sore and hurting me I was sure once I took off my socks I'd find some blisters on them, I really wanted to take off my shoes right now but I felt that if I do that I won't be able to put them back on to go back to my house so I took my towel and water bottle and start walking toward my home 

It was almost lunchtime when I came back home I was really hungry but my sweat-soaking clothes told me that maybe I should take a shower before anything else, taking off my shoes and socks I let out a sigh of satisfaction before I took a look at the state of my feet and oh man this wasn't pretty I went to my room to get a clean change of clothes before heading to the bathroom. There was no way I could train tomorrow with blisters like those on my feet so I took a first aid kit from the medicine cabinet and searched for a needle and some petroleum jelly (Vaseline) after bursting my blister open I took a good shower and took special care of my feet making sure that the wounds were clean, I dried myself than applied Vaseline on it to keep the wound from drying out than I put some gauze pad on them to just to make sure the wounds won't get infected

Now that I had finished taking care of that I could finally eat something my stomach had been screaming from starvation since I finished my training I was looking for the leftovers that my Mom had written about ' NOrmally she would put the leftovers at the very bottom in... yep this Tupperware I thought to myself before grabbing it and putting the containers into the microwave after 2 minutes I took my food to the table and start eating

''Sigh, that really hit the spot'' I said with joy

Catherine Rose P.O.V (mother of Stephen)

My morning was smooth sailing I didn't even realize I had finished working for the day until I was sitting in my car ready to go home. I was on my way home when I passed in front of the sports center that Stephen had told me about and this made me recall that Dan had been invited 5 years ago to a sort of academy that was teaching kids to play baseball but he also told me that it was like a giant baseball center were everyone could practice which was one of the reasons he had refused to do so and also he didn't want to lose the only vacation he had teaching another bunch of kids that weren't his team, maybe this would be better than the sports center I thought

I stopped at the first Starbucks I saw brought my PC inside and ordered a large coffee, 'Time to do some research' I thought before looking on the internet for this academy it didn't take long to find what I was looking for, and since it was in franklin close enough from home but far enough from downtown Nashville there was less chance for Dan to spot our Son doing his training. Sigh, this reminds me I'll need to tell Stephen about Dan changing jobs I don't know how he will react to this.

Packing my PC back into his bag and finishing my coffee I decide to look at this Showtime Sports Academy, it shouldn't take me more than an hour to check it out and get back home I thought before starting my car and driving to Franklin

Once there I stepped into the lobby and started looking around seeing my behavior that for sure was looking out of place in a place like this a young lady who was clearly working here judging by her outfit came to me

''Excuse me Ms, do you need any help?'' she asked me with a smile

'' Well yes, my son needs a place to practice and I was looking if this place was alright for him do you have any pamphlets or something?'' I asked the young lady

'' Of course, we do! Just a moment please!'' she said with a smile before turning around toward the reception desk

She came back with the brochure before starting to read I sat on one of the many chairs that were in the lobby and then started looking through what they had to offer 

( Rentals Facility

Batting Cage/Pitching Lane

Time30 Minutes60 Minutes

Price $30 $55

4 Cages with Hack Attack Pitching Machines

2 Standard Cages

1 Cage with an automatic Iron Mike Pitching Machine

1 Cage with a Hack Attack Softball Pitching Machine

1 HitTrax cage (pricing will vary).

1 Pitching Tunnel

1 Utility Field (56 feet by 130 feet)

Hittrax The First and Only Baseball Simulator

Time30 Minutes60 Minutes

Members $20 $55

Non-Members $40 $75

 Individual Memberships

$59.99/Month, $50 Joining Fee

Includes:30-Minute Cage and Field Credits Everyday

Discounts on all Camps/Clinics, and Private LessonsTerms: 6-Month Commitment

*30-Day Notice is Required to Begin Cancellation Process*

Family Memberships

$79.99/Month, $50 Joining Fee

Includes:

Two 30-Minute Cage and Field Credits Everyday

Discounts on all Camps/Clinics, and Private Lessons

Terms: 6-Month Commitment

*30-Day Notice is Required to Begin Cancellation Process*)

''Excuse me miss I have a question'' I said while giving her back the brochure she had just given me 

''I am here to answer those questions Ms'' she said with a small smile

''If I take The Family Memberships can my son take the whole two thirty minutes for himself?'' 

'' Yes in fact most people do this also when all facilities are being taken some people team up and share the price we are not that strict in that regard'' she explained to me patiently

'' Alright I'll take the Family Membership then'' I said a little excited I think that Stephen will really like this gift I thought almost making out my credit card before I realized that Dan could see this purchase, I stopped myself and took my regular bank card letting out a sigh, thinking that I almost made a big mistake that could have ruined the surprise my son was cooking for Dan

I came back home a little past 2 o'clock in the afternoon I put the car into the garage before turning off the car, took my purse and PC before making my way inside

''Hi Mom how was your day?'' asked Stephen as soon as I stepped through the door 

Stephen was sitting in the kitchen eating a banana and looking at a baseball game I recognized the Cubs but not the other team they were playing against... seeing him like this made me wonder for a second if all his new plans flew out the window when he woke up this morning but then I notice his feet that was wrapped with gauze 

'' What happened to you? why are your feet wrapped like this?'' I asked him walking toward him without even taking off my high heels

'' Mom calm down it's just some blisters I got while running this morning'' said Stephen finally turning his eyes off his screen and looking at me 

'' I thought I had said not to overdo it'' I said to him with my hands on my hip in reproval

''Mom... do you want me to be honest?'' asked Stephen with a serious face

''You better always be honest with me young man, Speak!'' I said angered by what he said

''I will clearly push myself really hard this summer, better get used to it fast because I won't slack off. I will train like yesterday 3 times a week I'll run like today 5 times a week and when I'll be able to go to the sports center if there's nothing important to do I'll go there all 7 days of the week, Mom I'm really serious about Baseball it's not just a whim and I won't be satisfied with playing in an amateur league I want to be the best if I do this half-hearted I'll just shame the sport I got to love so much, I'm sorry if it makes you worry about me ill go in my room now I need to take a nap'' said my son before getting up with his PC and going upstairs 

I just nodded at him too stunned to say anything, the only thing I could think of while looking at his back while he was climbing the stairs was ' God he looked just like his father when I met him, this kid gonna become a heartbreaker if he continues like this.' I thought with pride