A dusty arm draws back, cocking the projectile in just the right position. Sweat glints on the palm of his hand making the ball slippery, wind rushes past his arm, as he takes a deep breath and shoots the ball forward with all his might towards the plate. Justin grips the bat with both of his hands and in one motion swings it forward. It connects with the ball and the metallic vibration of the sudden impact emanates through the handle into Justin's hands. A hit! The large crowd choruses together in a rushed excited tone,"Run Justin Run!" Justin shoots forward around the first base, then to the second, the other team has the ball and is throwing it to third. Justin dashes forward faster than he ever has before passes third with a second to spare and starts booking it to home plate. The crowd's cheers grew louder, and home run! Spectators stormed the field lifting Justin onto their shoulders screaming happily.
Coach Samantha Higgins smiles broadly. She approaches the ecstatic champions, and says"Great job everyone, that was an awesome game!" Gradually the stands empty and the kids journey off to Pizza Hut for a celebratory feast. While Sam cleans up the equipment she notices a girl wearing a blue Nike shirt, basketball shorts, and a Nightvale Wolf Spider baseball hat with her hair pulled back through it in a ponytail approaching.
"Can I help you", Sam asked.
The girl responded,"As a matter of fact I think that you can. You're Coach F right?"
"That's me."
"Well you see I was wondering if I could join the team next season?"
Sam was taken aback the Night Vale Wolf Spiders had always been an all boys team all though there was no official rule. She paused for a moment trying to think of what to say and then sputtered,"I will consider it."
"Thank you", said Liza as she walked away from the field towards her bike.
A key scraped against the lock for several seconds before Sam heard the soft clicking noise that signaled that that the door could be opened. She could hear a high pitched yiping noise and excited scratches at the door. When she opened the door a small brown blur darted fowards yipping continuously. Sam picked up the blur and scratched his ears. She loved her dog Peanut. She had named him that because when she first got him he was small and brown like a peanut, but now it was more of an ironic name for her fat little Chihuahua. Sam kicked off her shoes, and layed back in her large comfy red chair stroking Peanuts head as he panted happily in her arms. Sam didn't know what to do. She didn't want to make the team feel uncomfortable, but she also wanted to be inclusive and make her team a place where everyone was welcome. Maybe I should just talk to the team tomorrow at practice and see what they think she thought to herself as she dozed off in her chair with the lights still on.
The next morning Sam gathered the team together in the field before practice started. She took a deep breath and said,"I love you guys, and I love the team that we've become. You have always tried to be inclusive and make everyone feel like they're a part of the team, and I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable so this is your decision, but I was wondering if you would be open to the idea of having a girl on the team?"
Justin spoke up,"Sure Coach."
Sam gazed around and the whole team was nodding their heads in agreement.
"I mean it doesn't really matter does it? Just tell who ever it is that they're welcome here anytime."
Sam beamed in pride at the boys who she had come to love and their open pure accepting hearts which were a definite indication of a brighter future.
"Well thank you guys, I'm really proud of you. Now let's get warmed up. How about 10 laps around the field, and don't start hovering Arthur I want full wing strokes."
Each member of the team sprouted enormous black wings and shot up 50 feet in the air darting around the top of the field while Sam hurled flaming trees at them, grinning thinking of the look on Liza's face when she told her the news.
