Broken Tears 10

Broken Tears 10

Schuller was a fine, tall senior who was getting ready to fill out applications for his college entrance exams. He knew that if the grades he made were the only requirements, he would be at the top of the lists of several colleges. He wanted to get a good education in something related to physical education but he had hoped that he was good enough to get on the college’s baseball team.

He had remembered his first game that he saw with his mother and father when he was four years old. They had just moved into a city that had a professional team. The hometown team won but what impressed him was the fact that all of the players hit a ball and ran so fast. He loved the cheer of the fans and the way they got on their feet when a homerun was hit. And to make the day one he will never forget, his father caught the homerun ball and gave it to him. He later got the ball signed by the player who said to him, “Thanks for coming to the game. I hope that you had a good time and will come back.”

Schuller did come back again for three more times in that year. Each time he sat in the outfield area, but never caught a homerun ball like his father did. But he did see that player who signed his ball. The player was an outfielder and very nice to all of the young kids who asked for an autograph.

That next summer Schuller played in the little leagues. He started out with T-ball and worked his way up to the regular teams. His proudest day was that he was the youngest player named for the All Star Team in his league, on his fifteenth birthday. He hit a homerun to win the game and heard the cheers and screams as he rounded third base for his proud run to home plate. As he ran he noticed his father standing proudly and cheering. Bethany, his little sister was at the fence, eating a snow cone and jumped up and down as he passed by. His mother sat there crying with joy on the wonderful game he played. That was the last time the whole family would see him play an All Star game because his mother would be diagnosed with cancer that had spread. She died the first day of the next season in summer. He then dedicated the games to her.

Schuller met Lester in the commons area of the school. Lester was Schuller’s friend since the sixth grade. They looked so different. Schuller was tall and Lester was short. Schuller had a fine tan. Lester was very pale white. Lester also had a kidney problem and was on dialysis. He was on the donor list and couldn’t wait for the day that he could feel and be like a normal person. He always envied the other students who could do what they wanted instead of being hooked up to some machine.

“Hey Schuller. How was your day?” asked Lester as they walked past the school mascot, and out the door.

“It wouldn’t be so bad if I didn’t have a certain girl following me around. She is just not taking the hint that I’m just a mentor, not a boyfriend.” replied Schuller as he stopped at Lester’s car.

“You mean she is interested in more than math?” said Lester with a grin.

“Yea and to make matters worse, three of Caroline’s friend saw her grab my hand. I’m sure that they thought we were, well you know.” he got into the car and buckled his seat belt.

“Well just to let you know, I think it is too late.”

“Late? Why?”

“Rumor city is at work and you and Amanda are officially a pair.”

Schuller groaned and put his hand on his forehead. He looked like he had just been told that his favorite team was moving out of town.

“Look. All I wanted to was complete something the Honor Society is doing for our school. I didn’t pick her name. And. Hey look out, that car’s not going to stop!” screamed Schuller.

Lester put on the brakes very fast. His brakes screeched. The red car whizzed past the red light and their car. In the lane on the other side of the street, a police car pulled out and turned on its lights. The air was filled with the blaring sound of its horn. Students who were walking home turned to watch the police chase the red car that had several times almost hit someone as they crossed the street.

“Who is that guy?” asked Lester.

“I don’t know. I don’t think that he goes to this school. But if I were him, I’d not come back. We don’t need someone who doesn’t respect school sign warnings.”

Lester nodded his agreement and looked both ways before he drove into the intersection and onward to home. It usually took 15 minutes, but today the boys wanted to go to a music store to look at the CDs that had come out. They were waiting for some new releases and had hoped that the store had not sold out the ones that they wanted to buy.

Lester also needed to go to the pharmacy to pick up some medicine for a small infection that he had. He knew that if his name come up for a transplant, that he would want to be in perfect condition. If he was not, then the next name would be taken and he would have to wait a little longer.

The boys sat silently as Lester drove to the music store. They passed little shopping strips that had been recently constructed and rented. They also noticed that their favorite fast food place, Jumbo Burger, was closed. The place had a fire there and the owner was having the place completely torn down and rebuilt. That place had burgers that was named the best in that part of town.