Batter Up

Delores Hart decided to stop and see if she could find the grave of the greatest pitcher in the history of baseball. Unfortunately, it was nearly dark by the time she located the needed cemetery.

“It shouldn’t be that hard,” she told herself, even though it was practically dark.

After a number of frustrating minutes, Delores finally found the marker. As she stood there, looking at it in the ever fading light, she saw an orb form and fly passed her head.

In quick succession, it was followed by another one and than again. She found herself ducking and dodging the glowing balls of energy as they continued to form and fly at her.

One came very close to hitting Delores in the left hip. The 75-year-old woman stepped back out the way only to trip over a thick tree branch.

Picking it up, she choked up on it as if the branch were a baseball bat. As the next orb came zooming towards her, she swung at it.

With the brilliance of a spotlight flooding her eyes, the orb exploded into thousands of dazzling pieces, falling like glitter to the darkened earth. Surprised, Delores stood there waiting for the next orb to form and come at her.

It never came.

Suddenly, from behind her in the dark came a single beam of light, followed by the sharp voice of the nightwatchman, “You done playing baseball? I wanna lock this place up.”

Though he couldn’t see it, Delores smiled sheepishly, answering, “Jus’ leaving.”

Without another word she dropped the tree branch and walked back towards her car, certain she had hit a pitch thrown by the greatest baseball pitcher that ever lived.