Although baseball was an ideal fit for me, and as far as my Dad was concerned, the only sport I should have spent time on, my friends were all playing football, basketball and running track as per Wayside Middle School's Athletic Program,.. baseball at that particular time had not become a school oriented sporting event. So for my chosen electives I begged to take athletics and my father reluctantly agreed noting that if I got hurt and baseball season was affected my birthday gift that year would also be likewise affected. I had spotted a slightly used Ford Mustang in the neighborhood and had already been dropping hints about it in hopes that my up coming birthday may yield a convertible with leather seats. Being a smaller guy on the field proved to be challenging to say the least. I started spending a lot of time in the weight room to counter act the lack of height and protect myself with shere power. through the 8th grade season it all seemed to work beautifully. in the summer before 9th grade I met a girl. She said things to me that I'd never heard and I felt things that were strange and exciting. I'd gone through the motions before, you know, movies, school dances, Homecoming, but nothing like this. most of the girls I'd been around up until that point, at least, had been either tomboys or too shy to really get to know. Aimee was different, outspoken, loud, and knew what she wanted and wasn't scared to break the rules to get it. And so it goes, baseball that summer wasn't the priority my Dad thought it should have been. After years of practice, hard work, and conditioning my performance seemed to lack concentration. Needless to say the tension at home took a heavy tool and started straining hard on my relationship with my father. Even though we made it to the State Championships our undefeated winning streak was ended in the worst possible way. We ended up taking home 3rd place medals instead of the 6 ft tall State Champ trophy.. The loss awarded me the right to shoulder the blame. you see, it was my lack of focus that loaded the bases and my pitch that was belted out of the baseball park that day. A 4 run shot to left field and we became 3rd best. I don't know if it was my own feelings, or if I could feel the disappointment of my father and teammates, but one thing was obvious I had lost interest in playing baseball. I figured that with what happened that season my birthday gift hope was just a pipe dream. The beginning of High School I had decided to try something new. I tried out for the gymnastics team without my father knowing and to my surprise I made it! I figured by the time baseball season came back around I'd have had time to break it to him, and everything would be fine. I talked to Aimee every night on the phone passing out with the phone to my head and waking up late for the bus. in the first month of ninth grade I had received the worst grades I'd ever gotten since is started school. 86, 85 , 82, and I almost cried when I saw the 77. I was heading for failure in a speeding jet. People always laugh when I get to this part, but this was the first real sign that I was starting to have real problems. I was freaking out inside about my grades, but Aimee could make me forget all about it. I had started sneaking out after everyone was asleep and, although I only had a driver's permit, I'd borrow my dad's car and drive across town to pick Aimee up. Then we'd go to the lake a few miles from her place and park by the shoreline. Young love turned us into thoughtless animals, consequences, fear of getting caught, nothing could stop us from being together, from feeling the passionate magnetism that radiated and stuck us together. The windows fogged over sweet smell of perfume and sweat. Although our lives were changed because of it, I look back without regret. it had been almost two months since I had started High School and finally the day came when my driving permit would become a real license. My birthday was the next morning. I hadn't even thought about the Mustang since the loss of the game, but nevertheless I was excited to get a restriction free license. Teenaged freedom. Time to make some memories. I'd been saving to buy a car for two years and had two grand saved up. so I was looking for something to buy in that range, the Mustang I wanted came with a 5000 dollar price tag so I was bummed about that. The morning of my 16th birthday started like every other , except that I woke up early I didn't want to miss the bus, Aimee had my present and was waiting at school by the bus drop off. I didn't want to miss that. I hopped in the shower and quickly took care of that, in a rush getting dressed almost late for the bus. I grabbed my backpack, hit the front door the bus shot right by . "Shit, wait!, I took off in a sprint. Before I got to the end of our driveway I saw Aimee standing there, " Miss the bus again"? she asked. " How?, When?, What are you doing here"? I said.
" Turn around", she smiled.
I couldn't believe it. The car I had been dreaming about was pulling up in front of my house! My Dad stepped out as my Mom stopped behind the Cherry red 5.0. " Give me my spare key to my car, Son." he grinned. " you don't need it anymore."
He threw me the keys to the car and Aimee went over and got in the passenger seat. " Happy birthday, Son." as he tossed me my keys " Happy Birthday, Kiddo." moms voice echoed. "Now get you ass to school. Don't be late." they said in unison. as they got back in his car and drove away.. I knew they knew I wasn't gonna make it to class that day.