Mr. Mertle walks out wearing sunglasses and overalls.

Mr. Mertle; hello?

Smalls: umm we- we- brought your dog back.

Mr. Mertle: Hercules. How'd he get out?

Smalls: umm umm well uh we

Benny: what happened was we hit a baseball into your yard we tried to get it back.

Mr. Mertle: so your the ones making all that racket.

You: yes sir

Mr. Mertle: you get it?

Smalls: umm y-yeah.

Benny hands Smalls the ball and Smalls hands it to Mr. Mertle who rolls it with his fingers.

Mr Mertle: well that's the first time anyone's gotten the best of old Hercules. Why didn't you just knock on the door I would've gotten it for you.

We all turn to Squints and everyone starts hitting him.

Squints: we got the ball back didn't we

Ham: we almost got killed.

Squints: don't we get the ball back.

They push each other a couple more times before Mr. Mertle starts laughing.

Mr. Mertle: thanks for bringing him home, come on in.

Smalls let's Hercules go in while the three of us look at each other.

Mr. Mertle: we'll talk about this baseball.

We walk in and Smalls looks really nervous but I can't shake the thought about how familiar Mr.Mertle looks. We follow him into a room filled with baseball memorabilia.

Mr. Mertle: your in trouble aren't you son.

Smalls: yeah well uh that was my step dads ball. I took it without asking. It was signed by Babe Ruth.

Mr. Mertle; George signed this.

Smalls: George Herman Ruth yeah.

Mr. Mertle: I take it back your not in trouble your dead where you stand. Hold on.

He makes his way to a wooden cabinet and opens it up bringing another ball out. He grabs it and sits at a chair holding it towards us.

Mr. Mertle: here I'll trade ya

Benny: that's really nice of you but that ball really is signed by Babe Ruth

Mr. Mertle: so is this along with and the rest of the 1927 Yankees.

Benny: man murderers row.

Smalls: why would you trade that ones all chewed up.

Mr.Mertle: I got a lot of good stuff look at that stuff.

It's true he did have a lot of baseball stuff around this room. We walk to the cabinet where he was pointing. My eyes go straight a news paper dated to 1947 about 3 months after I was born. I look at the photo and see a women who looks exactly like my mom about 15 years ago and she's holding about a 3 month old baby that resembled the baby pictures of me that I've seen. They are standing next to Babe Ruth and the old coach of the Yankees. I look at the fine print and see the names of the people in the image. It was my name and my moms but my last name was Ruth and so was hers. I stumble back a bit in shock before Benny comes behind me and hold me up.

You: I have to go.

I get out of his grasp and run out of the room hearing him yell for me.

Lilly and Benny both run out of the room and Mr. Mertle looks at me.

Mr. Mertle: what's that girls last name

Me: Anderson why?

Mr. Mertle: I need to speak to her where did she go.

Me: I-I don't know Benny will get her though.

Mr: Mertle: follow me

I follow him out of the house to the backyard holding the Murderers Row ball in hand. We step out to see Benny holding onto Lilly tight and Lilly is breathing heavily into his chest.

Kenny: what's going on?

Mr.Mertle: Lilly Anderson.

Lilly looks up with tears in her eyes and she grips onto Benny a little tighter.

Mr. Mertle: I never thought I'd meet you again.

All the boys look at him and Lilly confused.

Mr.Mertle: you saw the paper huh?

She nods her head into Bennys chest and Benny kisses the top of her head.

Mr. Mertle: let me see you.

She steps out of Bennys grip and walks towards Mr. Mertle shakily. Mr. Mertle places his hands on her face and rubs his hands on her cheeks.

Mr. Mertle: just like your father.

Lilly: No its not possible right she-she j-just has my n-name. He's n-not my dad.

Mr.Mertle: Yes Lilly George is your dad. Your father passed away when you were seven right?

She nods and Mr.Mertle smiles.

Mr.Mertle: he would be so happy right now. I see your mother kept her promise.

Lilly: w-what promise.

Mr.Mertle: it was George's will for you to find out when you turned 16 but I guess you found out early.

Lilly: s-so it's true Babe Ruth is my dad.

All of our eyes widen in shock and Mr. Mertle nods his head.

Lilly: how could I not know. Oh my god. It all makes sense. I'm such a horrible daughter. Oh my god.

Benny: Lilly wait!

She runs off with tears falling down her face and Benny runs after her worried leaving us all standing their in shock. Mr. Mertle sighs and stands up onto the porch.

Mr. Mertle: take care of her boys. She's a really special young girl.

We all nod and he walks back into his house as we walk out of the yard into the Sandlot.

Bertram: Man The Babe is Lilly's dad.

Ham: I know man it's sweet.

Me: I don't think we should mention it to her right now she seems really upset.

Yeah-yeah: yeah yeah your right she might get even more upset.

Squints: how could you be upset if the Babe Ruth is her dad.

Kenny: she didn't even know who her dad was and all of a sudden she finds out it was the best baseball player to live. How would you feel.

Timmy: yeah let's just leave it alone until she talks about it.

We all agree and walk back to our houses. I make my way to mine seeing Lilly crying on her porch in Bennys arms. I sigh and walk into my house not wanting to bother them.

After I found out that Babe Ruth was my dad I was so mad at myself for not realizing. I was sat on my porch in Bennys lap crying into his chest as he kept saying sweet things to me.

Benny: do you wanna stay at my place tonight babe.

I nod into his chest and he picks me up bridal style walking across the road to his house and opening the door. We both walk in meeting Anne as she is making dinner.

Anne: oh honey what's the matter.

She runs up to Benny and I and looks at me pushing my hair out of my face.

Anne: Benny honey go clean up I'll take care of her.

Benny looks at me with a concerned look and I smile slightly and rub the tears from my eyes. God I hate crying in front of people.

You: I'll be fine Benny go shower.

He nods and puts me down before running up the stairs to the bathroom. Anne sits me down on the sofa and sits beside me.

Anne: now what's a matter sweetheart

You: I just found out who my dad is.

Anne: oh honey. So this is a shocked cry right

You: sort of. I'm kinda blaming myself for not knowing who it's is.

Anne: no honey it's not your fault. Who is it?

You: George Ruth.

Anne: like Babe Ruth?

I nod and she pulls me into a hug.

Anne: at least we now know how your so amazing at baseball without even trying.

I laugh a bit before pulling out of the hug.

You: thank you Anne for everything. You've been so kind to be all the time. Your really like my second mom and I'm so thankful for that.

Anne: oh your gonna make me cry.

She hugs me tighter before pulling away with a smile on her face.

Anne: oh someone's waiting.

I turn and see Benny standing their in a hoodie and sweatpants with his hair wet.

Benny: so I can have my girlfriend now.

Anne: she's going to be my daughter in law.

Benny: yeah yeah you say it all the time.

Anne: you didn't deny it.

Benny: I don't want to.

She squeals like a little girl and stands up hugging Benny who looks taken back by his mother's actions.

Anne: well supper will be ready in a hour.

Benny: ok come on

He grabs my hand and pulls me up to his room. He jumps onto the bed and grabs you by the waist pulling you with him.

Benny: I'm sorry you had to find out like that.

You: I guess I had to find out sometime. I just kinda wish my mom told me but it makes sense why she wouldn't. My dad wouldn't want her too. God it's so weird to say my dad is Babe Ruth the man who I've been admiring since I was little.

Benny: now I can tell people I'm dating Babe Ruth's daughter.

You: like anyone in this town would believe that.

I laugh and Benny snuggles his head into my neck wrapping his arms around my waist.

Benny: I love you.

You: I love you too Rodriguez.

He smiles and kisses me before laying his head back down.

Anne: supper is ready!

You: come on Benny boy.

Benny: eww don't call me that.

You: well then come on Benny boy.

I pull him out of bed as he groans and picks me up over his shoulder running down the stairs as I squeal. He throws me on the couch and helps his mom set up the table.

Anne: you two are the cutest.

I smile and sit down next to Benny as the three of us talk and laugh through dinner. Once we are done we put away the dishes and go back to Bennys room. We both lay down in each other's arms talking and occasionally making out but that's besides the point. The both of us talk until I doze off and Benny soon falling asleep after