Jeff Curtis

The Rhythm of the Game Jeff Curtis

How far should you go to win a little league baseball game? This time it was Blake that was sucked into the vortex; Blake Curtis, the only player with Down syndrome to ever play in the FABL, was coming to the plate next, brought by design as the weak hitter with two outs and a runner on third. Blake Curtis might possibly be the last batter for his team in the championship game. Not just any ballgame, the championship game at the center of the universe. Ted was doing everything he could to help his team win. Apparently no one had explained to Ted the concept of a mockingbird, of justice, in Blake's universe. The Rays pitcher correctly read the sign. His first pitch of the at-bat hit Johnny on the foot, sending Johnny to first base. He hit Johnny on purpose! Now Blakey was coming to the plate. As Blake strode in his ungainly gait toward the batter's box, time bent. No one intercepted and deciphered the Ray's signals. No one could prove Johnny was hit intentionally, but I knew what Ted had done.