Entry tags:
[Flashback] September 12, 2008: Pirates vs. Cardinals
There was a chill in the breeze off the river. This would be their last game outing for the year. They'd been present for quite a few this year. A handful more than last year. But, it was getting too cold. When it warmed up again, they could come back. Mommy promised.
Emily sat on a wooden bench with her back to the river and faced the stadium. The parking garages were all full to the brim with cars and downtown was practically empty as people holed up in bars and at home to watch the game. And, then there were the few hundred lucky ones inside watching it live. But, as far as Emily was concerned, she and her Mommy had the best seats in the house. Even if they weren't in the house, really.
She had a scoop of butterscotch ice cream in a cone in one hand and the faded, worn teddy bear that her Mommy made for her when she was a baby in the other hand. The bear was made from soft flannel, stuffed with cloth scraps, and had coat buttons for eyes. When she was old enough to want to give it a name, she named him Benjamin. He wasn't as sturdy as the ones sold in the store, but Emily loved him to bits. Almost literally... Mommy had to sew the eyes back on several times.
Even in her new jacket, Emily was shivering. The ice cream combined with the wind to chill her right through and through. Mommy had an arm around her to block the wind. It helped, some. Still, she scooted closer and tucked Benjamin safely in between her and Mommy's hip. That way, he would stay safe and warm!
A faint, distant crack caught her attention. It was the sound she'd been waiting for since they arrived. A split second later, an audible roar went up from the crowd packed into the stadium.
"Home run!" She crowed and waved her bear-free arm. Her Mommy echoed the cry and hugged Emily with the arm around her shoulders. There was no way of knowing which team had hit or if the run had completed, but it didn't matter to them. This was their tradition. As far as they were concerned, the Pirates had done it again!
"They're good this season," Mommy observed as she licked a stray drip of chocolate from her ice cream cone. "Too bad it's almost over. I hope they're as good next year."
"They will!" Emily chirped with a nod and then returned her attention to her ice cream to await the next 'home run'.
"You always say that, EmmyBean." Mommy ruffled her hair. "As long as there's ice cream involved, huh?"
"Yep!" She gave a sunny smile complete with a smear of butterscotch across her nose. Mommy laughed as she wiped it away with the sleeve of her sweater. That tickled! Emily giggled and wrinkled her nose, snuggling in closer at Mommy's side. She'd warm up again when the ice cream was gone.
Until then, she waited for the next roar of the crowd and cheered right along with them.
Emily sat on a wooden bench with her back to the river and faced the stadium. The parking garages were all full to the brim with cars and downtown was practically empty as people holed up in bars and at home to watch the game. And, then there were the few hundred lucky ones inside watching it live. But, as far as Emily was concerned, she and her Mommy had the best seats in the house. Even if they weren't in the house, really.
She had a scoop of butterscotch ice cream in a cone in one hand and the faded, worn teddy bear that her Mommy made for her when she was a baby in the other hand. The bear was made from soft flannel, stuffed with cloth scraps, and had coat buttons for eyes. When she was old enough to want to give it a name, she named him Benjamin. He wasn't as sturdy as the ones sold in the store, but Emily loved him to bits. Almost literally... Mommy had to sew the eyes back on several times.
Even in her new jacket, Emily was shivering. The ice cream combined with the wind to chill her right through and through. Mommy had an arm around her to block the wind. It helped, some. Still, she scooted closer and tucked Benjamin safely in between her and Mommy's hip. That way, he would stay safe and warm!
A faint, distant crack caught her attention. It was the sound she'd been waiting for since they arrived. A split second later, an audible roar went up from the crowd packed into the stadium.
"Home run!" She crowed and waved her bear-free arm. Her Mommy echoed the cry and hugged Emily with the arm around her shoulders. There was no way of knowing which team had hit or if the run had completed, but it didn't matter to them. This was their tradition. As far as they were concerned, the Pirates had done it again!
"They're good this season," Mommy observed as she licked a stray drip of chocolate from her ice cream cone. "Too bad it's almost over. I hope they're as good next year."
"They will!" Emily chirped with a nod and then returned her attention to her ice cream to await the next 'home run'.
"You always say that, EmmyBean." Mommy ruffled her hair. "As long as there's ice cream involved, huh?"
"Yep!" She gave a sunny smile complete with a smear of butterscotch across her nose. Mommy laughed as she wiped it away with the sleeve of her sweater. That tickled! Emily giggled and wrinkled her nose, snuggling in closer at Mommy's side. She'd warm up again when the ice cream was gone.
Until then, she waited for the next roar of the crowd and cheered right along with them.