Sundress Blog: Summer Flash Showdown Winner, July 30, 2015

The Climbing Pine

Excerpt:

The first time you heard a priest swear was at your younger brother’s t-ball game. Early evening, mosquitoes biting, you were far more captivated by the rainbow snowcone in hand than the call that wasn’t just bullshit, but fucking bullshit. That side eye did little to mask your surprise, but Father Joe ticked up a notch that day. “Yeah,” your nine-year-old self concurred.

The game ended, as they often do, before the twilight hour, teams high-fiving in a post-game ode to sportsmanship. Defeat or victory didn’t loom long because once little league finished, the big game took center stage. Lights snapped and echoed on, a low hum began the orchestra, luring insects 50 feet skyward to a dizzying mosh pit. Kiwanis vs Noonan’s Hardware. Kiwanis Number 25 in left field, pale blue stripes on his chest, socks uneven. Slurping a wad of Big League Chew, he pulled his hat down too far over thick eyebrows and jogged deep – the worst player in the league.

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