At night we light up our baseball fields with bright lights that can be seen from space. Tim and Matt are brothers who love baseball. Matt is a pitcher for his high school team, the Bobcats. Matt hopes to get a college baseball scholarship. Matt is a very good big brother. He takes Tim along with him to all his practices and games. Tim dreams and dreams of becoming able to play the game of baseball that he loves so much, but that dream may never come true. You see, Tim is disabled. Paralyzed. He was born that way. It’s very difficult for Tim to move with metal braces on his legs and metal crutches. Tim is in elementary school but his dreams are big. He collects baseball cards and has over 500. Tim lies in bed every night, looking out his window at the stars. Closing his eyes, he prays to God to grant his wish. He falls asleep seeing himself hitting a home run. Running from base to base, smiling and waving to all the fans.
Tomorrow is the first game of the season. The boys’ mom, Nanette, is very, very proud of Matt and how he takes time with Tim each and every day. Nanette bought a walkie-talkie set for Tim so he can call his big brother at the games when he needs a cold drink or food because it’s hard for him to keep getting up and moving around the ballpark with all the people there.
Game night arrives and it is a beautiful warm summer night. People are filling up the bleachers. Matt makes sure Tim gets a seat in the first seat on the end so Tim can be close to the restrooms. Matt gives his little brother a big hug. Tim smiles and says, “Strike them all out, Matt!”
Matt smiles and says, “I will try, Tim.” Matt takes one of the walkie-talkies and heads to the field. Tim is sitting, eating a hot dog and drinking a Coke, when he feels a tingle in his legs. He feels like he’s rising from the bleachers. Before Matt can release the ball, all the lights at the stadium go out. When the lights come back on, Tim is gone but his crutches are still there. People look around at each other and try to figure out what happened. They look at all the players on the field and even the ones in the dugout. The players in the dugout are missing their uniforms. All they have on is their T-shirts and boxers. Their caps, gloves, bases, bats and balls are all gone. People start looking up at the night sky.
Matt calls Tim on the walkie-talkie. Tim doesn’t answer. Matt runs to the bleachers and sees that Tim is gone.
To Be Continued…
