John Lawless Poet Prose

City Life Circa 1957

City life, for kids, before the onslaught of helicopter parents and mandatory parental involvement in every aspect of growing up.  We played baseball, no umpires, the bases pieces of cardboard, scratched in dirt, or chalked on the pavement.  Four neighborhoods abutted each other.  We, the children of the game, formed teams, formed an impromptu “league”.  On one of these occasions when a game was “scheduled” team A came up short of the mandatory nine.  Team B would allow one of its players to play for team A.  The proof that this did not hurt team A’s chances of winning became evident the day Billie, (we’ll call her Billy to protect the legend), came to bat in the last inning and singled home the winning run for team A.

After the game Billie walked home with the rest of our team.  She looked a bit sheepish and we did sort of give her the business.  We all knew it didn’t matter which team you played for because the game demanded you play your best and hold your head high in both victory and defeat.

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David Crandall November 13, 2024 at 11:21 AM John, a great reminder of those good old days. Baseball was about one million times more fun without a parent in sight. The only time you should hear a parent (IMO) is when they yell out the door, "come in, your dinner's ready."

Gershon Wolf November 11, 2024 at 6:28 PM Ah, yes. I remember those days well. On a Sunday in summer, I'd take my baseball mitt, pack a lunch, and off I'd go on my bicycle at 8:00 a.m. to find game after game after game after game... to return at 8:00 p.m. at night. I was careFREE, and my parents were worry-FREE. ~ gw

Paula Goldsmith November 9, 2024 at 8:34 AM I enjoyed reading your wonderful write/story. What a Great Ending you have here. They should go back to the way it was years ago. As they say, there is No "I" in team. Have a blessed day/weekend writing away............... John Lawless November 9, 2024 at 8:40 AM totally based on fact with a bit of literary license...//don't tell the "fact checkers//

Lin Lane November 9, 2024 at 8:23 AM Team A, Team B, male or female gender... Billie played her best and for whatever team she was on that day. Score one for Billie and one for team play. Your league would never have been viable if she'd done otherwise. Such should be the way we look at life. Nice storytelling, John. John Lawless November 9, 2024 at 8:37 AM Alas, Lin, it is a mostly true story. There were several "girls" who got chosen before some of us "boys".....because they were better players....