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But it’s Tate

"Isome time with my mom"

We chitchat until he asks, "Have you talked to Drew lately? He stopped answering my texts and emails" Tate sounds so sad

"Ithat happened with Brian, Will, and Drew

"You didn’t s happen," he replies "Peoplelike this Why won’t he talk to you?"

Tate says, "It’s a hard thing--explaining to everyone who you really are I’ve only told a couple of people" We stay silent for a bit before he speaks again "Frankly, I think it’s kinda hot you seduced an older o quiet I stare down at the blue gown on the book cover and think about how much I want to wear my white dress Maybe this is a chance forfor me

"Hey, Tate?"

"Yeah?"

"Will you go to prom with me?"

Since Mom’s still at the florist, I root around in the basea Break, and nobody except for Dad and Tate has called I’ht borrow Mom’s bike and try to find a movie theater The nearest one is probably twenty ames and nonfiction books and baskets of linens That’s when I see it

Mo on a shelf next to a dusty vase I hesitantly pick up the glove and slip my hand inside I hunt around for a softball and find one behind a box of CDs I pull a deep breath and start pounding the ball into the glove, loving the release, loving the energy whipping throughtwo at a ti Mom’s tulip beds a wide berth, I throw the ball up into the air as high as it will go, then catch it I do this over and over again It never gets old

Moins to set

"You didn’t happen to bring your glove?" Mom asks as she steps out of the car

"No"

She slides her tote bag onto her shoulder and co and a kiss on the cheek I’vethat so much "That’s too bad We could’ve played catch"

"Next time" I smile at her, but it’s a pained smile I wish I hadn’t quit the team last year I wish I hadn’t letI did I wish I had understood that people will always interpret es not too far frolove off ainst the pocket "You pay for rounds of balls It’s fun--I go there sometimes"

"By yourself?"

"Yup" She bea The balls come at you at 90 miles per hour"

Myat 90 hs softly and brushes her hair over her shoulder "I usually out-bat the o there It rin "Let’s go"

"Let e into sweats"

We hit ten rounds of balls apiece, bloay too e a foul-tip I’ how rusty I ao out to this healthy buffet she likes, where we build giant salads full of tomatoes and squash and avocado to take home to eat in front of the TV And for the first tiaet back to school, I’ to talk to Coach Burns and Dr Salter I want to see if they’ll give me another chance to play softball this year I pray you’ll be there withlike a team player, which I haven’t been this year I’m the last person who deserves to play softball But I want to I want to try And I hope I can help the tea Break

Written on March 19 while overlooking the Great S a candle

the prom decisional

2 days until i turn 18

Dr Salter and Coach Burns had the tea ht said no