Catalyst of Dreams

15. The Championship Game

“Dad? What’s going on?” I ask as I join the rest of the family in the living room.

Dad is in his chair with a serious look on his face and mother has Jane on her lap, sitting on the sofa. Lindsey and Shailene are both sharing the love-seat and they are all silent.

“Bree come sit,” he says.

I sit down on the other end of the sofa, opposite from mother and Jane.

“I have something important I want to discuss with you all,” he says a bit weary. “I’ve already talked to your mother and we talked about how things are going to be for the rest of the year.”

A pit already forms in the middle of my stomach. The last time we had a sit-down we were told we would be moving to Japan.

“I know when we first moved here it was a huge adjustment,” he says. “As a family, we rose to the challenge and we made a life here.”

He pauses and it is eerie, how silent it is. He clears his throat.

“I’m asking the family to do it again,” he starts to say.

“We already know we’re moving next summer!” Shailene says as if we needed the reminder.

“Well, it was something that was brought up from time to time,” dad explains. “But, we’re moving sooner than expected.”

“What? When!?” cries Lindsey. 

“You girls will finish half the year here, and over break, we’ll be moving,” dad says.

Shailene and Lindsey look dumbfounded.

“Are we still moving to California?” I ask.

“No,” dad says. “We’ll be moving to Florida, closer to your grandparents in Jacksonville.”

“What!? That’s a further flight from Japan!” yells Lindsey. “I’ll have to save double the amount just to visit my friends here!”

By “friends” she means Kyle.

“Lindsey, I told you girls that it was a  possibility,” he points out, “I received my final orders a few days ago. I will be promoted here and sent there, where I’m needed.”

Shailene lets out a huge sigh.

“Of course when I have a boyfriend, we don’t even get to spend the next year together,” she pouts.

“Now girls, you know this is part of being in this family,” mother says. “I don’t want to hear anymore whining, you still have the rest of the year to say your goodbyes.”

Lindsey crosses her arms and sits fuming, looking out towards the balcony. Shailene mimics her, but she stares ahead.

“On that note,” dad says. “I decided to stop coaching and teaching English lessons after the final championship game this weekend. Kenta will be returning home tomorrow.”

I was kind of in a slump from the news but this newer revelation perked me right up.

“No more students?” I say, trying not to let my excitement show.

“No,” dad answers, “However, to make up for the income, I will be working as a night manager at the Kitsune Lodge starting next week.”

The pit in my stomach grows larger. At least with lessons, dad was home. If he’s working at the Lodge, we’ll barely see him.

“I know, this is a huge ask,” dad says, “but that means you’ll have to help mom around here more.”

Oh fun.

“But dad,” I say, “when will we see you?”

“Don’t worry too much Bree,” he tries to smile. “I’ll have a couple nights off and I’ll be here during the day on the weekends.”

It doesn’t seem nearly enough but I nod knowing there is nothing else to do about it.

“Whatever plans you girls had tonight,” mother interrupts my thoughts, “cancel them. For the rest of the week, we’re going to spend time with your dad before he starts his new job.”

I try to be happy that we’re going to be spending time as a family, and that soon, I won’t have to see Kenta, but I can’t ignore the sudden shift in the air. I just know things are changing, and I can’t say for the better.

*          *          *

The week leading up to the championship game, dad only held two practices in the afternoon. Those nights we spent playing board games or watching movies in the living room. On the other afternoons, we would take a bus to the base to meet him. We went to the bowling alley a couple of times but my favorite was going to the local restaurants there. Dad always tried foods, I didn’t dare touch. And he would laugh as I made a face when he would take something strange like a whole piece of squid sashimi in his mouth. I couldn’t even look at his plate without feeling squirmish.

The night before the game, we were treated to dinner at the Lodge’s restaurant, as a welcome gesture for dad. Everyone from the staff would come by to meet him and introduce themselves since they would be working their shifts together. Whenever a pretty hostess or waitress came to greet dad, mother’s face would contort as if she was smelling something foul.

“You’ll mostly be working behind the front desk?” mother asked for the third time that night. 

“My office is behind the front desk,” dad would remind her, “But I will have to be overlooking both the restaurant and lodging side of the hotel.” 

My mother would make a face again and start picking at her Chicken Katsu again, cutting some small pieces for Jane. Shailene and Lindsey were too busy talking to notice the weird exchange between our parents. I soon forgot too, because as soon as dinner was over, we were given gift certificates to use at the Lodge’s candy shop. I couldn’t wait to bring Lilia some jawbreakers and cherry gummies.

The next morning the whole family is at the field. It’s the most crowded the field gets, as families and friends of all the players are in the stands. The two teams playing, are the two teams that always make it to the Championship game, Dad’s team and Mr. Duncan’s team.

Lilia and I pass the gift shop bag between us, leaving the jawbreakers for last. This is the only game I’ve been to since the first of the summer. I look out to the field and I can’t help but notice dad’s team’s morale is kind of down, no doubt because this is the last game with him. 

“Dad’s team might actually have a chance of winning this year,” Lilia comments in between bites of sour straws.

I look at the scoreboard and dad’s team, the visitor's team, is down by two runs going into the last inning. His team is at bat and I can’t help but be a little nervous. Dad almost sent in a relief pitcher earlier in the game but Kenta made a comeback in the fourth inning. The closing pitcher would normally be warming up, but Dad is prepared to keep Kenta in if they manage to at least tie the game in the top of the ninth.

Kyle threw a consistent game so now their closer is at the mound. He strikes out the first batter. Ryo comes up to bat and he looks determined. When the ball comes, a resounding loud crack is heard as it meets his bat and goes flying towards the back of right field. He runs like a stallion and manages to get to the third base before the ball makes it back to home. 

Soshi is up next and he is determined as well. He misses the first throw but not to be outdone, he manages to hit the second pitch. He doesn’t hit the ball as smoothly but it was enough to get him to first base and Ryo to home plate. We’re down by one now. 

Kenta is next to bat. Dad gestures a series of hand signals to him and he nods before taking his place at the plate. He swings and misses the first two times, barely trying to hit the ball. I suspect he’s saving his strength for a possible last-half inning. For the third pitch, he bunts the ball enough for Soshi to steal second base, but he is forced out at first base. Two outs now.

Another guy of almost equal body type to Ryo comes up to bat. He’s new to the team this year so I have no idea what to expect. I become even more nervous now. The pitcher nods the call from the catcher and winds up the pitch. The ball does a deep curve but the batter is ready for it and swings hard. The ball flies over the diamond and out of the ball park. He hits a home run! 

The crowd is on their feet, half cheering, half jeering at the spectacle. Soshi, who is not the fastest runner, runs past third base with the batter not far behind when they both run to home plate within feet of each other. We are now up one run.

The home team’s pitcher manages to strike out one more player bringing us into the bottom half of the ninth. The tension in the air around the stands is felt as Kenta reaches the pitcher’s mound. He looks like whatever was shaking up his game earlier is far behind him now. This is the Kenta everyone knows.

He strikes out the first batter with ease. The second batter manages to hit the ball but he makes the mistake of running to second base and gets tagged out. I watch the next batter take his time to the plate. I can only imagine the stress he’s under. 

He lifts his bat and gets into stance. Kenta nods to the catcher and gets ready for the pitch. It’s a fast one and we all hold our breath as the ball comes down the line. We hear the resounding crack and it’s almost too much when we see the ball go flying. 

"FOUL BALL!" the umpire yells. 

I hear a collective sigh of relief. 

Kenta gets ready for another pitch. He nods again to the catcher before throwing what looks like a curveball. It goes under, but the batter manages to hit the ball. It goes straight down the field and the batter takes off for first base. The second baseman manages to catch the ball and he throws it to first, but not fast enough. The batter is safe.

Kyle is up to bat. He doesn’t look nervous at all. He gets to the plate and I see him give Lindsey a wink before he gets into his stance. Kenta and Kyle stare each other down. This is what it comes down to. Kenta winds up the ball.

It feels like slow motion as he raises his knee to build momentum for the pitch, but when he throws, it’s fast. Kyle barely hits the ball but once it makes contact with his bat he takes off. Kenta catches the ball as it skips towards him. He takes off running to second base as the previous batter barrels towards it. Kenta is quicker. He tags him. The game is over. The visitor’s team has won.  

There’s a deafening roar of both joy and sadness across the stands. I see dad lead the other players out of the dugout in a run towards the pitcher’s mound. They pick up Kenta on their shoulders, chanting his name. I see my mother and Jane make their way to the field to congratulate them. Normally I would be joining in the celebration, but I stay behind.

I watch as Shailene and Lindsey go console their boyfriends. I begin to feel their loss. Lilia goes to help her dad pack up, he’s going to be in a sour mood. And I am alone sitting in the stands watching everything and saying nothing. 

I am fixated on Kenta. In this moment he is happy and he is surrounded by his teammates and spectators chanting his name. His future is bright. His dreams are within reach. He is the king of the world.

*         *        *