Chapter 93

            Indigo pulls into the car park of the playing fields. Indigo and Ethan get out of the car and walk towards the baseball diamond. Gaz walks over to them and says “Hey, sis.”

            Indigo says “Hey.”

            Ethan says “Hi, Uncle Gaz.”

            Gaz says “How’s it going, big man? You ready for practice?” Ethan nods. “Good. You go warm up with the others while I talk to Indigo?”

            “Uncle Gaz, who are the big kids?”

            “They’re from the high school I work at, and they’re going to help.”

            “Ok, Uncle Gaz.”

            “You’re going to have to call me Coach while we practice, buddy.”

            “Yes, Coach.”

            Ethan runs to his team-mates. Indigo says “He’s really looking forward to showing you his skills.”

            Gaz says “How about you? You still remember how to do this?”

            “I played softball, not baseball.”

            “Hit a ball, run bases. Not much difference. Where’s Summer?”

            “I don’t know. She wasn’t at Sabrina’s when I left. She said she’d meet us here.”

            “We need to get started. We’ve only got an hour.” Indigo and Gaz walk over to the kids. “Ok, team. I’m Coach Wyatt. I don’t know what you guys can and can’t do, so we’re going to try everything. Pair up and line up. First thing, throwing and catching.”

            One of the high school students says “Is she your catch, Coach?”

            “No, Gaude. This is my sister. Our girlfriends will be here soon.”

            “Hey, Hayden, that’s what a real woman looks like.”

            “That’s enough, Gaude, or I’ll make it a month.”

            “Yes, Coach.”

            Indigo says “Month of what?”

            Gaz says “This is his detention.”

            “Everyone’s here because of detention?”

            Gaz shouts “Ok, two steps back. Lorencz, help the pair on the end.”

            Lorencz says “Yes, Coach.”

            “No, just him. The other kids volunteered.”

            Indigo says “They getting extra credit?”

            “Yeah, and they get to see what it’s like to be a coach.”

            “I take it you’re enjoying your job?”

            “Yep.”

            Hayden says “Coach, is this a closed practice?”

            Gaude says “Hoping your girlfriend would come?”

            Gaz shouts “Gaude, laps, now. And it’s a month.”

            Gaude starts to run. Indigo says “What’s his problem?”

            “She turned him down.”

            “For a girl?”

            Gaz shrugs. Lorencz says “Coach, visitors.”

            Gaz and Indigo look behind them to see Summer and Priscilla walking towards them. “Hey, Princess. Where have you been?”

            Summer says “I was at they gym. Someone surprised me. I think she’s got me low-jacked.”

            Priscilla says “Don’t be dramatic. I saw you, I offered you a ride. That’s it.”

            Gaz says “Babe, are you helping too?”

            “No. I’m going to watch.”

            Gaz kisses Priscilla. “Then get off my field.”

            Priscilla walks over to the bleachers and sits down. Hayden jogs over to Gaz and says “Coach, the kids are getting bored. Can we change things up?”

            “Did you have any ideas?”

            “Move on to batting, but so there’s no arguing, one throw, furthest first?”

            “That’s good. Go set it up. Mark where the ball lands, not where it rolls to.”

            “Yes, Coach.”

            Hayden goes back to the others. Indigo says “She’s good.”

            Gaz says “Top of her class. Come on, I can’t let the students do all the work.” Gaz, Indigo and Summer walk over to the kids, who are lined up. “Ok, team, do you know what you’re doing?”

            All the kids say “Yes, Coach.”

            “Good. The big girls are going to be markers. Ladies, go stand together.” Gaz looks at Indigo and Summer. “That includes you two.”

            Summer says “Twelve kids, six markers. Got a plan for that, Coach?”

            Hayden says “Coach, Wayland could be the seventh marker, and we could move depending on the shortest throw. Gaude could collect the balls.”

            Gaz says “Hayden, if I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were after my job.”

            “No, Coach. It was just a thought.”

            Summer says “It was a good one. Maybe you could be the assistant.”

            Gaz says “What do you say, Hayden?”

            Hayden says “Can I think about it?”

            “Of course. Now, go be markers.”

            Indigo and Summer follow Hayden.