life, a successful life.
But much to her and Josh’s surprise, he’d landed an academic scholarship, first to NYU and then to Columbia Law. The day he’d graduated from law school at the top of his class, his mother said nothing could ever make her happier or more proud. That meant more to him than all the accolades he’d earned in law school.
When the train reached his stop, he exited the car and climbed the steps to the busy street above. He had to find a way to reach Daniel, and sports might be just the ticket. Maybe he could even enlist Daniel’s help with the youth baseball team he coached. Nothing made you forget your own problems like helping others.
Josh checked his voicemail as he walked the three blocks back to his office. One from a stuffy-nosed Miranda letting him know she was going home sick; the other, an awkward one from Darcy.
“Hi, Josh, um, Blake asked me to join him in a friend’s box for the game on Saturday, so you can use the other ticket. I hope you don’t mind. Anyway, if I don’t see you, I’ll leave it at the Will Call window. Okay, see ya. Bye.”
Just great. He and Darcy hadn’t missed a Yankees home game together in years. Blake had only been in her life a month and she was already ditching him.
It wasn’t as if he’d have trouble finding someone to go with him. In fact, Chris and Mark might come to fisticuffs over who got to go. But, dammit. He preferred going with Darcy.
Then he thought of Daniel. This would be the perfect opportunity to begin the bonding process. After all, what kid didn’t love baseball?
Dodging pedestrian traffic, Josh dialed Kelly’s number and got her voicemail. He left a message asking if Daniel could go, and explained he’d take the subway to Harlem, pick up Daniel, and the two of them would head to Yankee Stadium for some guy time, starting with the pre-game batting practice ritual.
Josh tucked his phone in his pocket. The thought of some male-bonding time with Daniel eased some of the disappointment of losing Darcy’s company.
Saturday’s game against the Mets would be a rowdyone. The Subway Series, as the inner-city rivalry was called, would pack the subways it was named for, so Josh wanted to leave early.
He knocked on Kelly’s door. The door flew open and Kelly stood there, a dishtowel thrown over her shoulder, looking as if she were the one going to her first live baseball game, instead of her son.
“Hi, Josh! Come in. Daniel’s almost ready.” Her breathless enthusiasm made him smile.
“Daniel, come on,” she shouted up the stairs. “Josh is here.” Turning to Josh, she asked, “Can I get you some coffee?”
“No. Thanks.”
Daniel clomped down the stairs, taking his time. He could have used a little of his mother’s enthusiasm, Josh thought. Dressed in a fatigue jacket two sizes too big, and an off-kilter baseball cap, Daniel’s face read like a sullen teenager-to-be.
Kelly walked over and straightened his cap. “You ready for the game?”
“Whatever.” Daniel rolled his eyes.
Her smile falsely bright, she continued to gush about how much fun he would have.
“If it’s okay, I’ll have him home after dinner.” Josh opened the front door.
“Oh, sure. You two just have a good time.”
Kelly tried to kiss Daniel, but he pulled back with an embarrassed, “Jeez, Mom.”
As Josh led Daniel toward the subway, he’d have thought he was leading him to a prison cell. He spoke little on the train ride, only to answer direct questions with one-word answers. Fine. Whatever. Nothing.
Once they reached the stadium, however, Josh could feel Daniel’s excitement build, although Daniel tried to play it cool.
He bought Daniel a program and while they watched batting practice, Daniel asked a few questions about the players, their positions and their stats, but other than that, the kid just seemed to take it all in.
When they finally took their seats, they were loaded down with hotdogs, nachos, peanuts, and soda. The
But much to her and Josh’s surprise, he’d landed an academic scholarship, first to NYU and then to Columbia Law. The day he’d graduated from law school at the top of his class, his mother said nothing could ever make her happier or more proud. That meant more to him than all the accolades he’d earned in law school.
When the train reached his stop, he exited the car and climbed the steps to the busy street above. He had to find a way to reach Daniel, and sports might be just the ticket. Maybe he could even enlist Daniel’s help with the youth baseball team he coached. Nothing made you forget your own problems like helping others.
Josh checked his voicemail as he walked the three blocks back to his office. One from a stuffy-nosed Miranda letting him know she was going home sick; the other, an awkward one from Darcy.
“Hi, Josh, um, Blake asked me to join him in a friend’s box for the game on Saturday, so you can use the other ticket. I hope you don’t mind. Anyway, if I don’t see you, I’ll leave it at the Will Call window. Okay, see ya. Bye.”
Just great. He and Darcy hadn’t missed a Yankees home game together in years. Blake had only been in her life a month and she was already ditching him.
It wasn’t as if he’d have trouble finding someone to go with him. In fact, Chris and Mark might come to fisticuffs over who got to go. But, dammit. He preferred going with Darcy.
Then he thought of Daniel. This would be the perfect opportunity to begin the bonding process. After all, what kid didn’t love baseball?
Dodging pedestrian traffic, Josh dialed Kelly’s number and got her voicemail. He left a message asking if Daniel could go, and explained he’d take the subway to Harlem, pick up Daniel, and the two of them would head to Yankee Stadium for some guy time, starting with the pre-game batting practice ritual.
Josh tucked his phone in his pocket. The thought of some male-bonding time with Daniel eased some of the disappointment of losing Darcy’s company.
Saturday’s game against the Mets would be a rowdyone. The Subway Series, as the inner-city rivalry was called, would pack the subways it was named for, so Josh wanted to leave early.
He knocked on Kelly’s door. The door flew open and Kelly stood there, a dishtowel thrown over her shoulder, looking as if she were the one going to her first live baseball game, instead of her son.
“Hi, Josh! Come in. Daniel’s almost ready.” Her breathless enthusiasm made him smile.
“Daniel, come on,” she shouted up the stairs. “Josh is here.” Turning to Josh, she asked, “Can I get you some coffee?”
“No. Thanks.”
Daniel clomped down the stairs, taking his time. He could have used a little of his mother’s enthusiasm, Josh thought. Dressed in a fatigue jacket two sizes too big, and an off-kilter baseball cap, Daniel’s face read like a sullen teenager-to-be.
Kelly walked over and straightened his cap. “You ready for the game?”
“Whatever.” Daniel rolled his eyes.
Her smile falsely bright, she continued to gush about how much fun he would have.
“If it’s okay, I’ll have him home after dinner.” Josh opened the front door.
“Oh, sure. You two just have a good time.”
Kelly tried to kiss Daniel, but he pulled back with an embarrassed, “Jeez, Mom.”
As Josh led Daniel toward the subway, he’d have thought he was leading him to a prison cell. He spoke little on the train ride, only to answer direct questions with one-word answers. Fine. Whatever. Nothing.
Once they reached the stadium, however, Josh could feel Daniel’s excitement build, although Daniel tried to play it cool.
He bought Daniel a program and while they watched batting practice, Daniel asked a few questions about the players, their positions and their stats, but other than that, the kid just seemed to take it all in.
When they finally took their seats, they were loaded down with hotdogs, nachos, peanuts, and soda. The
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