S M A L L S - July 20, 1962 - 11:30 A. M.

Days after we all got over acting like big shots, we swore off the hard stuff forever and just stuck to bazooka. But one day when we all got together for some baseball, weeks after we acted like big shots...was the day I got us into the biggest pickle of all time, and it all started with an omen.

S A M

Sam walked into the sandlot, humming a random tune. Benny didn't go to her house to pick her up. They've came to the conclusion of doing that a couple days after they became official. Benny probably was busy or something, so Sam went down to the Sandlot herself.

The boys were huddled by home plate and Benny's back was facing Sam as she was getting closer to them. Sam approached Benny quietly, trying not to make the rest of the boys notice her.

When Sam arrived a couple of inches away from Benny, she wrapped her arms around his torso and pressed her chest to his back.

"Hi." She mumbled mumbled out, a smile growing on her lips. Benny turned around with a smile too once he saw his girlfriend.

"Hey." He kissed Sam's lips quickly and wrapped an around around her waist.

"What happened? You didn't come over today."

"Oh, yeah! I honestly forgot, the boys and I went to the drug store to get a new ball. I'm sorry." Benny explained.

Sam leaned up and placed a soft kiss on his jaw. Benny closed his eyes in contentment. "It's okay."

"Yuck!"

"Ah! P-D-A, P-D-A!"

"Benny!"

Sam giggled, pulling back while Benny opened his eyes the rolled them.

"Looks like they need you." Sam said as the boys walked off and spreaded out to their spots. When each of the boys stood in their spot, they groaned out in frustration as the couple were still in each others arms.

"They're just jealous that they don't have a girl like you." Benny said as he cupped Sam's face with his hands. He looked into her eyes before leaning down and capturing Sam's bottom lip with his lips.

They kissed for a few seconds before pulling back. Sam snickered when she turned to the boys, they all had their eyes covered.

"Let's play ball!" Benny shouted out and the boys cheered. Yeah-Yeah went up to bat first and Sam walked behind and stood Ham since he was the catcher. That was a perfect spot for Sam to see everything, well, besides sitting on the fence.

Sam sighed as the boys started playing; every since the first time she saw the boys play, she wanted to play baseball too. She has learned the major details by watching the boys play, but she wanted to learn more.

As time passed and the game progressed, all the boys went up to bat except Benny, he was the last to go and that was Sam's chance to learn how to play properly.

"Hey Benny?" Sam asked as she walked to him. He turned around with the bat in hand. "Is it okay if you teach me how to bat?"

"Sure sweetheart." Benny winked and moved to side. A giggle left Sam's lips as her cheeks blushed. Benny had called sweetheart before but she always blushed when he did. Sam stepped on home base while Benny handed her the bat and stood behind her.

Benny wrapped his arms around Sam and rested his hands on her arms.

"So you place your hands right here," Benny moved his hands down to guide Sam's hands placing them on the right spot on the bat. "And you hold your arms out like this. And you spread your legs like this."

Benny moved his body along with Sam's, showing her how to spread her legs and stand properly.

"Then, you just swing." He turned his body, turning mine making Sam swing the bat. "Okay?"

"Okay." She responded.

Sam looked back and saw Benny nod at DeNunez. DeNunez got into position to throw the ball. DeNunez threw it and it was hurdling towards Sam.

"Keep your eye on the ball.." Benny whispered into Sam's ear and she swung as hard as she could, her boyfriend's arms still wrapped around her.

Whack!

Sam dropped the bat as Benny let her go. The ball went flying towards the fence but it feel just in time so it didn't go over.

"Run Sam, run!" Benny yelled and Sam sprinted as fast as she could to first. Scott got the ball in his glove then threw it to Bertram who was on first.

The ball flew at Bertram but he didn't catch it, so Sam ran to second. Bertram was chasing the ball, giving Sam time to run to third. Finally, Bertram had the ball and he threw it to home. Since he was too far, the ball landed like a foot away from DeNunez. Sam sprinted again as she heard the boys-mostly Benny-cheer for her. She saw the ball fly to Ham who was on home but she stepped on the base just in time before he caught it.

"Woo-hoo!" Benny exclaimed while he brought Sam into a bear hug. "That was awesome, you run really fast! You reminded me of The Flash!"

"Thanks." Sam breathed out since she was out of breath as Benny placed a kiss on her forehead.

Sam would love to do that again. There was such a rush and electricity running through her veins and she would do anything to get that feeling again.

⚾

All the boys batted for a second time then it was Benny's turn once again. The whole field was quiet and Sam could feel Benny's determination. He was always determined when he batted; or when he played any position.

DeNunez threw the ball and Benny hit it with a giant WHACK!

It all happened almost in slow motion. The ball broke and the skin flew off. Scott catched the inside of it.

Sam ran with all the boys to where the skin layers were on the ground. All the boys were murmuring out words in shock.

"I don't believe it."

"Bitchin'."

"Nah, it ain't."

"Come on. Maybe two or three guys in history ever busted the guts out of a ball."

"Must be an omen."

"That was amazing." Sam leaned up and whispered into Benny's ear before she hugged Benny's side.

"All it means is that we can't play no more." Benny sighed. "It's 12:00, and I just ruined the whole day for us."

"Don't say that.." Sam sighed, kissing Benny's jaw, trying to calm him down.

"No you didn't." DeNunez said. "That's the most amazing thing I ever saw."

"Yeah..."

"Anybody got any money?" Benny asked.

"No," The rest of the boys responded, including Sam.

"Then it ain't okay, 'cause now we can't play no more."

"Yeah, we can." Scott said.

"What, you got ninety eight extra cents lying around at home, Smalls?" Benny asked.

"No, but I got a ball."

"Go get it!" The boys shouted at Scott. He then took off running and left the Sandlot.

⚾

"I got it guys! I got it! I got the ball, guys!" Scott yelled as he ran in. It took him a couple of minutes to get the ball he talked about. "I got it. Right here guys. I got it!"

"Here, Benny. I got it." Scott placed a ball in Benny's hand.

"Bitchin'. Your ball, your ups." Benny passed the bat to Scott.

Scott went to home base and he positioned himself. DeNunez threw the ball, but Scott missed. DeNunez threw it one more timme and Scott actually hit it.

Whack!

The ball flew and Benny went chasing after it. It went over the fence and everyone started cheering, Sam joined them.

"Go, Scott!" She cheered as he went running to first then second. At second, he slowed down to a stop and stared at the fence as the ball went over it.

"Hey, uh, Smalls, third base is that way." Bertram said as Sam started to walk towards Scott with her eyebrows furrowed.

"Oh, no. Oh, no." Scott sighed.

"Yeah! Nice hit, Smalls. Nice hit. Yeah!" Benny cheered.

"Oh, no."

"It's outta here! Who's got the big bat now?"

Scott slowly started to walk towards the fence and everyone stood back watching him.

"What the hell is he doing?" Ham asked.

"Maybe the shock of his first homer was just to much for him." Bertram responded.

"I don't think it's that.." Sam shook her head.

As Sam was still walking up to him, in the distance she heard a dog growling.

Scott turned around. "We got to get that ball back."

"Oh, yeah, right." Ham laughed. "Good one, Smalls."

The boys except for Sam started laughing along.

"Hey forget about it, man. Let's get another ball." Benny shrugged.

"No, you don't understand!" Scott exclaimed.

"Sure, we do. You feel bad 'cause you belted a honer. Now we can't play no more." Benny explained.

"No, you don't understand! That wasn't my ball!"

Oh no...