The Softball Darling

Saturday mornings in the spring are never boring. Sometimes, they’re just plain weird. Certain things never change, though. Like how Momma runs around getting all the items for her “ballpark bag.” It’s just sunscreen, bug spray, hair brushes, sunflower seeds, money, bandages, chapstick, and other stuff, but it’s important to her. What’s important to me is looking like a rock star when I hit the softball diamond. And eating frozen waffles for breakfast. Although, blueberry muffins are good, too. “Momma, will you braid my hair now?” “Give me just a minute, Kiddo. I need to find Dad’s scorebook, and my coffee needs to be reheated for a third time, already.” “I can guess who knows exactly where Dad’s book is, Momma. I’m sure if…” “Found it!” Momma shouts as she opens the microwave door to reheat her coffee for the third time, already. “For all the macaroni in Minnesota, who put it in here?!” I don’t think she really expects me to answer that question. Grown-ups do that. They ask a question that they already know the answer to. Sometimes, though, they’re just talking to themselves. I think it’s probably both this time. “Okay, okay, I’m ready Sweetheart. What are we doing with your hair today? French braid, Dutch braid, fishtail?” asks Momma. “Um, fishtail braid! I want to wear my new glitter ribbon!” I love ribbons and headbands because that’s what the big girls who play softball wear. I watch them on TV. I’m going to play in college, too, but that’s a long time away. I sure hope that ribbons and headbands will still be cool when I grow up. “Fishtail, it is,” Momma says as she begins brushing out my long hair. “Say, do you know where all your equipment is? We don’t need to be late, you know.” Oh, do I know. “Yes, Ma’am,” but in my head, I add “I think” to the end of that. Dad is my head coach. He says it looks bad when he’s not the first one from the team at the ballpark. It’s not about being on time, but actually being EARLY. On time is the same thing as late. So when Momma says we don’t need to be late, she’s really saying we don’t need to be on time. Pretty confusing to me, so I just make myself ready when they tell me to be ready.