by Joe Gribble
They grab two large boxes, dragging them off the helo and over to a waiting cargo truck.
Bob climbs into the truck’s passenger seat as the airmen load the boxes into the back.
The driver, a young airman, climbs up into the cab. He starts the engine and slides the machine into gear. “Where to, Staff Sergeant? My orders are to treat you like a VIP.”
“I like that,” Bob says. He points south. “Let’s go to the ball field.”
---
The truck pulls to a stop, dust swirling from the wheels.
Bob stares out at the field, remembering the feel of throwing those last fastballs before he lost his arm. It had only been a year, but it seemed like decades ago.
On the field, several airmen and Afghans are playing baseball, using the same old steel plates for bases.
Bob climbs down out of the truck and steps around to the back. The driver meets him there and drops the tailgate.
They each grab a handle on one of the boxes and haul it out, carrying it to the makeshift stands by the third base line. Stenciled on the side of the box: CINCINNATI REDS.
“Let’s open it up,” Bob says.
The driver gets a crowbar from the truck and runs back. He starts prying the top off.
Bob looks out at the field and smiles when he sees a large sign wired to the backstop, just below the barbed wire ringing the top:
STAFF SERGEANT JOHNNY GRIGSBY MEMORIAL BALL FIELD
Across the field, Bob spots the young Afghan he had pitched to a year ago, the one Johnny wanted Bob to strike out, but who Bob had decided to let hit. It is good to see the young man still alive, still playing baseball. The Afghan teen spots Bob as well, and comes running over, waving for his father to follow.
When the young Afghan teen gets to Bob, he pauses, unsure what to do. He sees Bob’s prosthetic arm and smiles. The teen’s father steps up behind him, and puts his hand on his son’s shoulder. Finally, the teen places his hand over his heart and bows slightly, greeting the American.
Bob looks at the young man. There are so many similarities between this young man and Aja. Bob wonders if all this isn’t somehow connected. He helped this man learn to love baseball, and Aja showed Bob how to overcome his bitterness for a whole race of people.
Bob replies in kind, then reaches out and pulls the teen close and hugs him. The teen’s father then wraps both men in a big hug.
The driver lays into the last plank holding the top of the box on. He pops the top off.
Bob breaks out of the hug and steps over to the crate. He reaches inside and pulls out a brand new baseball glove. He takes it to the Afghan teen and gives it to him. Bob smiles as the young man’s eyes light up.
A couple more airmen crowd around the box.
Bob hands out more ball gloves. He pulls out a padded base and hands it to an airman. “Tell the ump to call time out. Let’s fix Johnny’s field up a little.”
A captain comes walking over. “Staff Sergeant Williams! Major Kepler said you were coming back. You plan to win this war playing baseball?”
Bob hands the captain a glove. “I don’t see why not, Captain. Everybody loves baseball.”
###
PROFITS TO MILITARY FRIENDLY CHARITIES
I am donating 50% of my revenue from this book to military friendly charities. You can help me identify the best charities to support.
If you would be kind enough to post a positive review of the story on your Facebook page (and wherever your purchased the book), and send an e-mail to at least five of your friends recommending the book, I’ll donate 25% of my revenue to your favorite military friendly charity. Just let me know which charity you want me to donate to. I’ll also donate 25% to the recommended charity of whoever referred you to this book (if they’ve already contacte me with that information). In your e-mail, please include your name, the name of the person or organization who told you about the book, and your favorite charity. Please friend me on Facebook so I can see your review. Send the information to [email protected].
The following five organizations sponsored this project through announcements on their social media sites. I’ll donate all leftover revenue (unclaimed from e-mails, up to 50%) to their supported charities.
Sparrow Six-Five (Facebook) supports National Veterans Homeless Support (www.nvhs.us)
US Military (Facebook Group) supports Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org)
Dysfunctional Veterans (Facebook) supports The Warrior Connection (www.warriorconnection.org)
Michael Schlitz (Through Burnt Eyes – Facebook) supports The Gary Sinise Foundation (www.garysinisefoundation.org)
Freedom To Act Films supports Fisher House (www.fisherhouse.org)
For a current summary of how much we’ve donated to these and other charities, please visit https://www.freedomtoactfilms.com or the Hometown Heroes Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/H2NovelCharity.
