Out of Left Field: Marlee's Story (23 page)

BOOK: Out of Left Field: Marlee's Story

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Marlee watched Sam round first base and head toward second while Jeri sprinted toward the ball.
Jeri’s never gonna make it.
Everyone, Cougars and Panthers alike, gasped when Jeri D’Amico took a running leap into the air with her glove extended.

“She caught it. She caught it!” someone yelled.

Jeri lay face down in the grass holding her glove and the ball high in the air so the umpire could see it.

“Yes, she did. She got it. The batter is out!” the umpire yelled with hearty enthusiasm. “That’s the game.”

Marlee threw her glove high in the air. She had her perfect game. The Clarksonville Cougars had their championship. Lisa ran up and wrapped Marlee in another bear hug. The infielders joined the celebration in the pitcher’s circle, and then collectively stormed Jeri in the outfield.

As the revelry continued, Marlee turned to find Susie sitting on the visitors’ bench alone. Her Panther teammates, including Sam, packed up their stuff around her. Susie just sat on the bench watching the Clarksonville team celebrate. But, Marlee quickly realized, Susie wasn’t watching the team. Susie was watching her. Marlee melted inside, but stayed strong. She hoped she had made the right decision.

“Got something for you.” Marlee jumped when Jeri appeared at her side.

Marlee tore her gaze away from Susie. “You scared me.” She looked down to see Jeri holding her glove open with the game-winning ball displayed. Marlee turned and smiled at her friend who was grinning from ear-to-ear. Marlee took the ball and said, “You are awesome, Jeri.”

“No, you are awesome, Marlee.”

“No, you.”

“No—”

“Shut up, both of you,” Lisa said sidling up to Marlee. “You’re both awesome. But, Marlee, you still have that decision to make, don’t you?” She looked over in Susie’s direction.

“Yeah,” Jeri chimed in, “that decision, Marlee.”

The smile drained away from Marlee’s face. She looked from one friend to the other and said quietly, “No, I made my decision.”

“Oh, okay.” Lisa shrugged, clearly disappointed, and turned away.

“I decided to do this.” Marlee yanked off her hat and nodded her head rapidly like her Mr. Met bobble head.

Susie leaped to her feet. Lisa and Jeri cheered their approval.

When Marlee had seen how dejected Susie looked in the ondeck circle, she finally realized that she, too, had been positively miserable. Susie had rejected her, that much was true, but Susie had also made her feel things she had never felt before. Marlee knew that her world had been infinitely brighter with Susie in it. She smiled, pleased with her decision, and waved at Susie.

Susie waved back and smiled with a look of utter relief on her face. She put a hand over her heart and mouthed the words, “Thank you.” Susie stepped back and stumbled against the bench. She sat down hard. Susie’s head went down as if she were praying quietly.

Marlee sprinted over and sat down next to Susie hip to hip, thigh to thigh. Marlee’s heart lurched when she saw Susie’s red-rimmed eyes. She wrapped Susie in a quick hug and didn’t care who saw them.

Susie looked up at Marlee, tears falling down her cheeks, and said, “
Dios
. I was such a jerk to let you go. I prayed and prayed you would give me a second chance. Marlee, I never should have left you.”

“You really hurt me.”

“
Aay, mi vida.
I know. Believe me, I know. I’m sorry. I was so confused. Did you read my letter?”

Marlee nodded.

“Then I hope you understand that I was trying to do the right thing.” Susie rested her head on Marlee’s shoulder. “And when I finally realized, as slow as I am, that I really loved you I wasn’t going to let anything or anyone get in the way.” She picked her head up, a look of hope in her eyes. “I love you, Marlee.”

Marlee whispered back, “I love you, too.” She took Susie’s hand. “Why don’t we just start over, okay?”

Susie nodded and squeezed Marlee’s hand.

THE END

About the Author

Barbara L. Clanton is a native New Yorker who left those "New York minutes" for the slower-paced palm-tree-filled life in Orlando, Florida. She currently teaches mathematics at a college preparatory school in the Orlando area. When she's not teaching, playing softball, tiling her floors, or evicting possums from the engine block of her RV, "Dr. Barb" plays bass guitar in a local band called The Flounders with her partner who plays the drums. Her ultimate dream is to one day snowbird between upstate New York and central Florida.

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