Flashback

          

With Clare home, we ran over to Stella’s for some bp.  The second I stepped in, it was eleven years ago—boys everywhere, hibernation over, sweat mixed with determination and fear.  A scene like that stays with you.

Clare was in sixth grade that first time; she had to be the only girl in the building and definitely the only swinging a bat.  This was part of our spring training.  Someone had asked me to take over the Bronco baseball team, and my daughter was intent on sending a message to teammates.   When her turn came at 70 mph, Clare hit 12 out of 14 balls hard and fair.  “She’s got to play in high school,” said another father standing next to me.

I’ve always wondered if he meant softball or baseball.