I woke up and quickly threw on Jeans and a tight t-shirt which I tucked into my jeans. I grabbed my ball and glove and ran out after saying good bye to my mom. I see Benny waiting for me at the end of my driveway so I jog to him.

You: good morning Benjamin Rodriguez

Benny: good morning to as well Lilly Anderson

You: do you think we could ask Benny if Smalls wanted to join us I mean he has no friends and it's summer.

Benny: ya cmon

We walk to Smalls house and see him sitting on his steps of his house so the two of us walk over to him.

You: hey Smalls

Smalls: oh hey Lilly, hey Benny

Benny: you gonna play ball with us and the sandlot?

Smalls: no I can't

You: why you don't like baseball?

Smalls: no it's not that it's just my gloves busted

Then Benny pulls out another glove from his pocket and hands it to him.

Benny: here's my old one now cmon

Smalls: sweet!

He runs into his house and yells at his mom and the three of us run to Vincent's drugstore and see the boys behind it sitting on milk crates. There all eating Bazooka gum and Hams the only one standing up.

Ham: I'm bhe breat bambino

All; what

Ham: bhe breat bambino

All: huh

He takes the cigar shaped gum out of his mouth and talks again.

Ham; I'm the great bambino

All: ohhhhh

Smalls: who's that

Everyone including me and Benny turn to look at him everyones jaws are dropped to the floor and both Benny and I cringe.

Ham: what?

Bertram: what were you born in a barn man?

Yeah yeah; yeah, yeah what planet are you from

Squints; you never heard of the Salten of Swat

Kenny: the Titian of Terror

Timmy: the Colossus of Clout

Tommy: the Colossus of Clout

Benny: the King of Crash man

Smalls: oh the Great Bambino I thought you said the Great Bambi

Ham: that wimpy dear

Smalls: ya I guess sorry

You: Smalls don't be sorry you just misheard them

Benny: anyway, Smalls that's Timmy and Tommy Timmons, Mike Squints Palledorous, Alan McClennan we call him "yeah-yeah", Bertram Grover Weeks, Kenny DeNunez, and Hamilton Porter we call him Ham. Guys this is Scott Smalls.

Smalls: Hi

All of the boys spit in order of there names, and Smalls just waves as Squints spits a second time.

You: was that really necessary Squints

Squints just shrugs his shoulders and I shake my head moving my focus back to Benny.

Benny: ya um well he's gonna play with us because he makes 10 so now we got a whole team,

You: we're waisting time let's go to the sandlot

All: Lilly it's 9:00 a clock!

That all say while grabbing there stuff as me and Benny walk away before any of them. Once we arrive to the Sandlot Smalls was behind us and I was with everyone as they were complaining.

Bertram: why'd you bring him Benny

Benny: because there's nine of us and he makes ten

Yeah yeah: yeah, yeah so does my sister and I didn't bring her

I smack yeah yeah in the chest and he looks at me as I roll my eyes and look back at the group.

Benny: well with 10 people we got a whole team yeah yeah

Ham: no with Lilly we make a whole team and Lilly can catch, and throw

Kenny: cmon Benny man he ain't game you saw the way he threw

Tommy: yeah, you already filled up all the empty positions since Lilly got here

Benny: right and Now I get to rotate eight positions instead of seven. I need the practice guys.

Ham: your the best on the team you don't need any practice.

Squints: cmon Benny man the kid is a L-7 Weenie!

He makes a diamond shape with his fingers and I look back at Smalls who's heads down.

Yeah yeah; yeah yeah, Oscar Mayer even, foot long! a dodger dog! A Weenie!

All the boys start laughing and I feel bad for Smalls who's standing there alone

Benny: what are you laughing at yeah, yeah you run like a duck

Yeah yeah: k, k but I'm

Benny: part of the game right

Yeah yeah: mmm yeah!

You: you guys said the same thing to me because I'm a girl and I'm on the team now so you all can't say anything about Smalls being on the team either.

Bertram: yah but he's a geek

Squints: he can't catch

Benny: man base up you block heads

He walk away towards Smalls and all of the guys move to there usual positions. And I go over to Smalls and Benny.

Benny: Smalls you take left centre ok

Benny walks away almost in the inner field when Smalls turns back around.

Smalls: we're is that

You: right there

I point my glove to where he has to go.

Smalls: here!

You: he said left centre Smalls

Smalls runs to left centre and all of the boys start complaining.

You: don't listen to them Smalls they have baseballs for brains

He laughs and sees Timmy hit his glove twice so he does the same. I see Yeah-yeah mumble something.

Benny: Lilly pass to two!

He throws it up and hits it, it goes long towards the fence I can tell it's gonna go over but only by a little so I run towards the fence and hear all the boys yelling but I keep running.

Kenny: Lilly your gonna hit the fence if you don't stop!

I don't listen and run to the fence I jump and my foot hits the fence and I push off jumping higher from the fence and I catch the ball. I fall back onto my feet and see all the boys staring at me with there mouths wide open.

Smalls: wow

I laugh and throw the ball all the way from the fence to Bertram who was at second. He looks down and stares at the ball and shakes his head as he throws it to Benny who catches it with his bare hand.

Benny: umm Ok Smalls throw to second.

Smalls prepares himself and Benny hits it right towards Smalls. Everyone keeps saying that he's not gonna catch it. Smalls backs up backwards and falls straight on his butt. I walk over to him and help him get up.

Smalls: I'll get it

He runs over to the fence and grabs the ball and runs back to we're he was standing before and prepares to throw it.

You: throw it to Kenny

He nods and runs to Kenny and drops it in glove before apologizing and running back to his previous position. I see Benny running to Smalls so I walk over to him.

You: you can throw it you know

Smalls: n-no I-I can't I think I'm just gonna go

Benny: you think to much I bet you get straight As a shit

Smalls: no I got a B once, actually it was a A- but it should've been a B.

Benny: you need to stop thinking and just have fun, if you weren't thinking you would've caught that ball

You: Have you ever had a paper route

Smalls: I helped a guy once

You: throw it like you'd throw a paper, when your hand gets here just let go.

Benny walks away back to home plate when Smalls looks up again.

Smalls: how do I catch it

Benny: just stand there and stick your glove out in the air. I'll take care of it

He walks away and I give Smalls a reassuring smile and turn back to the diamond.

Squints: about time Benny my clothes are going out of style

You: they already are Squints

Squints: shut up

Benny: Smalls to second!

Benny spits on the ball and then runs it before hitting the ball straight to Smalls who has his glove in the air and he keeps mumbling, please catch it, then the ball lands perfectly in his glove. Smalls looks at the ball in his glove.

You: ya Smalls that was great

Smalls: I caught it

All of the boys stare at him in shock and start saying things like I knew it. Benny cheers for him at the home plate before Smalls throws it into Bertram's glove. They all get back into positions when Smalls gives Benny a thumbs up and Benny down it back. We all play for a couple more hours and everyone leaves at 6:00 to go eat. Me, Smalls, Benny, and Ham walk back. We all talk before Ham separates from us and goes to his house.

Ham: good job Smalls I'll teach you some more tomorrow alright.

Smalls: all right see you tomorrow

So it's just me Smalls and Benny left before Smalls turns to his driveway after saying goodbye. When Smalls runs back to the both of us.

Smalls: Benny your glove

Benny: it's alright man keep it

Small: thanks

He runs into his house yelling for his mom and me and Benny walk to our houses. I give Benny another kiss on the cheek and run inside.

Benny: I'll see you at 8:00

You: not if I see you first

I smile and go inside before throwing my stuff down at the entrance and walking to my mom who's making dinner. I walk over to her and grabbing the 2 plates and utensils and set them down on the table. We eat dinner and afterwards I go outside and sit on the swinging chair that's on the porch. When I hear my name being called.

You: hello?

Then I see a figure jump out from the bushes which makes me jump and walks towards me as it comes closer I see it's Benny.

You: don't scare me like that

Benny: why it was funny

You: you get on my nerves Rodriguez

Benny: why are you out here anyways it's so dark out

You: I can't sleep, and I could probably ask you the same question

Benny: can't sleep

You: you can sit down you know

He smiles and sits down next to me.

Benny: where did you move from

You: Boston

Benny: really?

You: ya I don't know why we moved though. I think it was my mom had to get away ever since my dad died.

Benny: oh I'm sorry

You: no it's fine I got over it. He was a really good baseball player he taught me how to play when I was 3.

Benny: shit you've been playing since you were 3

You: ya it's weird to think about

Benny: no wonder your so good. Remember when you said you thought you were going to suck

You: ya that was because nobody ever wants to play with a girl. Well besides you and I guess the boys but even that took some effort.

Benny: those guys are brainless sometimes.

You: ya that's what I told Smalls.

Benny: well I should get going I'll see you tomorrow

You: ok bye

Benny: bye

He runs home and I sit looking at the stars still when my mom comes out in her robe.

Mom: Lilly honey your gonna get a cold come inside, and who were you talking to.

You: Benny couldn't sleep so he came over and we talked

Mom: you like him don't you

You: ya

Mom: ok well come in I don't want you getting sick

I walked inside and went upstairs, I had a shower and wore spandex shorts and a sports bra to bed. I lay awake thinking about baseball and then Benny pops into my mind and I can't stop thinking about him. After an hour I finally drift off to sleep.