Untouchable

A young man's path towards greatness isn't as smooth as anticipated.

          Jay Wilson dug in on the mount as he peered in to take the sign from his catcher. He smirked as his catcher called for a fastball, he had no authority here, this was Jay’s game. He shook off the call and nodded when he got what he wanted, the curve. Jay’s delivery was like poetry in motion as he effortlessly flowed through his windup, turning his wrist over smoothly as he snapped off his wicked curveball. He smiled as he watched his perfect curve break under the swing of the batter for strike three, ending the game and keeping his perfect season intact. Jay jogged over to the dugout and sat down to relax, he never took part in the handshakes after a game, the other players were beneath him and he was not shaking hands with losers. Jay seemed to have it all, he was a senior and one of the hottest baseball prospects in the state of Colorado. He had been on the varsity team all four years of high school and had only lost two games. He had lead the Wolves to three state championships and was on track for a fourth. On top of all his athletic ability, Jay was also very popular, especially with the women. Standing tall at 6’2” Jay was in excellent physical condition, his tan and toned physique complimented by his deep blue eyes and soft brown hair falling just above his shoulders. Jay frequently entertained girls at his house while his parents were at work but he was always safe, he was not about to father a child with some loser girl in this dead end town. Jay had big dreams of going to a top college where he would win more championships and then he would get that big money deal in pros that he so deserved. Life was good, he got any girl he wanted and he didn’t have to do anything when it came to school.

He rarely went to class and even when he did, he didn’t participate, the teachers knew how important he was to the baseball program and how talented he was so he never failed a class, he was just pushed through. The other males hated Jay, he had no respect for anyone and walked around the school as if he owned it but no one dared challenge him or speak up because the staff and team were fiercely protective of him, Jay was a god to this school and town. Jay left the field and headed home for the night but not before arranging a morning hook-up with one of the softball players, as he often did. Jay’s evenings were pretty predictable, he would ice down over dinner while ignoring his mom’s suggestions of trying harder in school so he would have a backup plan and laughing to himself as his dad gave him pitching advice. Jay’s dad had a successful college career but never went beyond the minors, he was just another loser who couldn’t make it pro as far as Jay was concerned and he would never take advice from a loser who failed to make it and settled to be a lowly gym teacher. Jay’s dad taught physical education at a local junior high school so he wasn’t aware how often Jay skipped school but he wouldn’t have cared anyway, he saw pro talent in his son and was living his dream vicariously through Jay, all he wanted Jay focusing on was baseball. Jay’s mother on the other hand worked in pharmaceuticals and understood the importance of education. She often stressed this to Jay and tried to push him to excel in school but her words were ignored. Jay already knew he was going to make millions playing baseball. Jay’s lack of interest in school was a constant source of conflict between his parents, more than once he went to bed listening to them argue about his future. These fights never bothered him, his dad believed in him so if his parents divorced he would take care of his ad and make sure his mom got nothing for failing to believe in him.

          Jay got in the shower the next morning after sending his latest hook-up on her way. After his shower, he went out back where he had setup his own pitching mount and he began his daily routine of throwing fifty pitches. Jay exploded off the mound with each pitch, his delivery was perfect and with each pitch, he saw his dream inching closer and closer. After his practice, Jay iced his shoulder and watched some TV. He listened to the sports broadcasters talking about the hot pitchers in the major league and smiled, soon they would all be talking about him. Jay went to school after lunch for history class because he found Ms. Williams attractive and felt like she flirted with him. After class, he went to practice where he barely participated. He didn’t run or take infield with the team; he didn’t need their useless drills and routines. The coach once threatened to bench Jay for not taking part in practice, Jay threatened to quit the team and transfer to a different school in return, and the coach had not challenged him since. After practice Jay went home and took over the TV for the night, he was the future source of income of the family so he did as he pleased and his dad allowed it. Playoffs were approaching so Jay was getting even more special treatment at home. He had to go to school this week for testing but he would pass all of the tests as long as he showed up and wrote something. He enjoyed watching everyone else struggle with the tests and get angry as they watched him randomly mark down answers and hand in the test knowing he’d get a passing grade. That day however, when Jay handed in his history test Ms. Williams asked him to come by after school to discuss his results. Jay was excited, he knew what that meant. He had always fantasized about being with his teacher and now it was finally going to happen. He waited for a while after school to make sure everyone had cleared out before heading to Ms. Williams’s room.

 He entered and made sure the door was locked as he flashed her a smile and said hello. She greeted him warmly and asked him to come over and take a seat, Jay strode confidently over and stepped behind her desk next to her, he placed his hand on her lower back and rubbed it gently but froze suddenly when he saw the look of confusion which quickly turned to anger spread across her face. Ms. Williams stood up, an angry fire in her eyes as she berated Jay for daring to touch her that way and to think she would be willing to engage in any kind of sexual activity with a student. Jay stepped away from her and put his hands up to show her he wasn’t pursuing anything but the sly smile on his face angered her further, he just didn’t care. Ms. Williams composed herself and explained her growing concerns about Jay being catered to and not being held accountable for his actions. Jay stretched and yawned audibly before asking her if that was all. She felt the anger rise up inside of her again as she told him that she was failing him on his test and would have no problem failing him in her class if he didn’t shape up. Jay informed her she wasn’t in charge here and needed to learn her place; he called her a b***h and casually walked out of the classroom. Ms. Williams swore to herself she was going to do everything she could to teach him some respect but she was deeply disappointed the next day when she discovered he had been transferred to a different history teacher and his test was being re-administered by that teacher. That discovery made her realize how little this school cared about academics and it hurt her heart, she informed the principal this would be her last year teaching for the school. Jay meanwhile continued to have his run of the school as he prepared for the upcoming playoffs.

          The last game of the regular season was tonight, Jay sat bored in the locker room knowing he wouldn’t play tonight. As the team headed out to the field Jay hung behind, he wasn’t playing tonight so he had arranged a locker room hook-up with a volleyball player. He would get to the field when he got there. Jay arrived at the end of the second inning and no one said a word, at least he showed up. Jay sat on the bench and put his feet up, they were up 2-0 but it didn’t matter as they had already secured first place in the league, this game was just a formality. After six innings they were head 11-2, the game was all but over. Jay noticed a scout from a local college in the stands and figured he was there to watch their closing pitcher Tim. Jay never liked Tim, he didn’t worship Jay like the others did, he just kept to himself and was trying to get a scholarship. Jay saw this as an opportunity to stick it to Tim and teach him who was in charge here. Jay went to the coach and complained that his shoulder felt tight and he needed to throw tonight to loosen up and make sure he was ready for the playoffs next week. Although the coach was against using Jay in such a meaningless game Jay was adamant that he needed to throw tonight, so the coach gave in and put him in to close the game. Jay took delight in seeing the anger and disappointment on Tim’s face as he was told Jay would be pitching the last inning. Jay trotted out to the mount and dug in, the opposing team’s fans booed loudly, clearly upset that the best pitcher in the state was being used in a game that they were already badly losing. Jay smirked at the fans as he took the mound; they were in last place and the smallest school in the region. These stupid hillbillies should be honored to get to watch a pitcher of his caliber. Jay didn’t even bring out his good stuff for the first batter; three hard fastballs put him away with ease. AS the next batter stepped in Jay decided to give everyone a show and bring out his beautiful curveball. Jay pushed off the mount and rotated his perfect cover over the top, the ball sailed off into the backstop as Jay collapsed to the ground. An audible gasp from the fans filled the air, they had all heard the loud pop from Jay’s shoulder as he released his pitch and the home fans jumped to their feet in horror seeing Jay laying on the ground clutching his shoulder in agony. Jays’ dad, coach and the trainer rushed out to the mound as Jay rolled around crying out in pain.

          Jay’s dad scooped him up and rushed him to the hospital. Several tense hours passed as his parents, coach and some teammates waited to hear the news. They finally saw the doctor coming down the hall, every step he took file as if he was stepping on their stomachs. The painful churning in their guts only got worse as the doctor explained that Jay had suffered a complete tear to his labrum and rotator cuff. The doctor informed them that Jay would need surgery, they were going to get him in tonight due to the seriousness of the injury. Jay’s dad collapsed back into his chair, he felt like the weight of the world was pressing him down into that chair. The coach threw his hat against the wall in frustration as the doctor informed them that Jay’s season, and likely his career, was over. Several agonizing hours passed as Jay underwent surgery, he awoke in recovery and although he was hazy from the drugs he only had one questions for everyone, how long until he could play again? The surgeon explained the severity of the injury to Jay and made it clear to him that very few players returned to their old form from an injury this drastic. He explained it would be at least a year before Jay could even start trying to throw a baseball again. Jay listened intently, trying to hear every word but none of them made sense, he was going to the pros, he was going to make millions, his career wasn’t over. Jay sneered at the surgeon and told him to get out, how dare he insinuate that Jay wouldn’t get back to his old self, he wasn’t just some player, he was great and he would recover from this. Jay didn’t sleep that night, the mix of emotions going through his head and the pain in his shoulder kept him up. He turned on the TV and tried to clear his head, he listened to the ESPN broadcasters and how the draft prospects this year were going to be great. He listened as they talked about who would go to which team and the deals they would likely get, as he listened to it all he felt a fire and determination rise up inside of him, he was going to return and he was going to get drafted in the first round and get his millions.

          The next few weeks were rough for Jay, he couldn’t return to school so his work was sent home and his mom made sure he did it, he also had to hear about the team being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. They would have won if he were pitching, he knew it. AS the days drug on Jay got more and more determined to recover from this and get his career back. The road back to baseball was going to be tough, Jay found that all the colleges that had been offering him scholarships and big promises no longer returned his calls. Jay pushed himself during physical therapy, this was his life and he was getting it back. Jay graduated from high school while still in recovery, there were no cheers when his name was called and the girls Jay tried inviting over suddenly had excuses. Jay was stunned, he couldn’t believe his friends weren’t around anymore and the girls were rejecting him, had they forgotten who he was? Losing all the attention made Jay angry and he used that anger to fuel his rehab, pushing himself harder than ever before. 

          A little over a year later Jay stepped onto a mound for the first time. He had found an adult baseball league to play in and planned to use it to put himself back on the map to pro scouts. Jay dug in and eyed the first batter, his first victim, this was the moment he had been waiting for and had worked so hard for. The cool air and smell of the field filled his lungs, he took the sign from the catcher and smiled as he began his windup, he was finally back where he belonged. Time seemed to slow as Jay went through his delivery; his motion was still perfect, so fluid. AS he finished his delivery, he rolled his wrist over releasing his wicked curve; the ball sailed towards the catcher beautifully until the only sound heard was the ping of the ball slamming into the metal bat. Jay turned in shock as he watched the ball sail over the left field fence for a home run. His mouth wide open and a burning sensation in his shoulder Jay watched the batter circle the bases and cross home plate. The rest of the game wasn’t much better as Jay gave up two more home runs and several hits before being pulled from the mount. Jay sat in the dugout reflecting on what had happened, his shoulder was on fire as he rubbed it, trying to soothe the pain. He realized he was just rusty and needed a little more time and practice to get back to the top.

          Jay does not play in the adult league anymore; it’s been 3 years since his failed return. He moved to a co-ed softball league at the rec center and every Monday morning Jay drives his route collecting people’s trash. He doesn’t seem to mind working in trash collection and he’s made friends with several people in town, real friends. Gone is the arrogant superstar and Jay is well liked by many but don’t’ invite him to the baseball game, Jay hates baseball. He doesn’t watch sports on TV anymore and only plays recreational softball but he does enjoy a good conversation about recycling and protecting our environment.

         

Author's Note

Please ignore grammatical mistakes, I do my best to clean it up but I'm not perfect. Please provide any thoughts or feedback about the story, I love hearing from readers.