MB1 #5 - Best Friends

Best friends care, no matter the time, space or circumstance. There's an understanding between them that never goes away. Maybe there are struggles that happen, but a friend will be there to understand, as long as you let them. This is especially true with romantic relationships. As the feelings grow, the friendship deepens. No matter what others might see as a flaw, a friend seems to have a knack at getting to the truth . . . and helps the other to see it.

       He heard her voice, void of emotion. "Come in."

       Aaron stepped into the room and saw her sitting at the foot of the bed. Shalene appeared tired. He asked, "What's wrong?"

       Shalene voiced helplessly, "I saw the scar in the mirror."

       He sat next to her. After a pause to get his thoughts together, he started to speak, thought again, started and stopped again. Finally, he asked, "How can I help?"

       Shalene took notice of Aaron seated with his elbows rested on his knees and his hands clasped, his eyes trained on the ground. He appeared to struggle. Somehow, she saw her struggle in Aaron's expression, as if he looked for an answer that couldn't be found.

       She, however, no longer found the struggle worth her while. At this point, when she saw the scar's ugliness, the point of it became clear.

       Aaron turned to see Shalene staring at him with hardly an expression. She slid closer and laid her scarred cheek gently on his shoulder, and then wrapped her arms around him. With his left hand, Aaron gently grasped her arm. He asked again. "What do you need, Shalene?"

       "Nothing." She responded, quietly, the emotion beginning to build. "Aaron, I just can't see the scar as anything but ugly."

       Aaron straightened and took her hand. The movement forced her to sit up. "Didn't we talk about this?"
       Shalene shrugged. "I wasn't looking at it. And it's not like I don't believe you because I do. Still, when I see it . . ."

       "But you saw it." Aaron began looking at it and touched it. "You know that I see it, too. Every time I'm with you. It doesn't change how beautiful you are, because I've seen it from the very beginning."

       Shalene didn't know how to respond.

       Aaron asked her. "You know you're beautiful to me, right?"

       "I know, Aaron, but there's so many others who are beautiful and don't have this scar. Like Martha."

       "None of them are you. How do I help you see that when I'm with you and you relax . . . there's no one more beautiful in this world to me. The way we talk and just enjoy. Think about Papa Joe's. Think about how easy everything is with us."

       "This isn't, though."

       Aaron smiled. "Yes it is. And if we have to go through this every day of our lives, we'll do it."

       Shalene looked intensely at Aaron, "How do you know it's not just pity for the poor girl with the scar?"

       Aaron's eyes widened at the question. After he recovered he came back just as intense. "Because of everything else."

       "Like what?"

       He kept control. "Did you enjoy yesterday with me?"

       "Yeah, but-"

       "But nothing. Did you have fun Saturday?"

       Shalene felt her defenses weaken a little. "Yes."

       "What about tonight when we finally came together, did you have fun?"

       "Yes."

       Aaron kept it going. "How about the baseball game?"

       "Yes."

       "And did you help me through my fear of taking a chance on pitching?"

       Shalene fought, though her resistance held thin. "I'm not sure."

       "You did, okay?"

       Shalene smiled. She couldn't help herself.

       "Look at what you've done where my grandpa is concerned."

       Confused, Shalene asked, "I didn't do anything."

       "You got me this house and you promised to help me with him. And that was without really knowing him . . . by the way, you're getting the better end of that bargain because he's awesome."

       A familiar excitement began to grow within Shalene. "I don't understand. Why is that such a great thing?"

       Without hesitating he continued, "Not once did you question the fact that I wanted to bring my grandpa to live with me, not like the others I told. And it's because you get it, no different than when you took care of your grandpa."

       Shalene didn't speak because she knew what he meant. Maybe she lived with and took care of her grandpa because she wanted to get away from the trap of others. In the same respect, Shalene dearly loved her grandpa and wanted the best for him. She also took better care of him than anyone else could have. Just like Aaron, Shalene understood family and what it meant. Like all the other things they had in common, this never needed to be explained. They just understood because they thought the same.

       Barely above a whisper, Aaron asked, "So, before you begin to think I'm taking pity on you, I want you to think about us."

       Shalene didn't expect this.

       He continued, "Before you begin to wonder if I'm making up our connection, stop and think about that first night at Tossed."

       Shalene started to smile and resisted the urge to laugh, the urge to add, "And you sat there watching me run away."

       Again, to Shalene's surprise, Aaron gave words to the thought. "And if you wouldn'tve dashed out on me that night, we would've found out how much we both like baseball a week earlier, and maybe even had a few more dates before you were too nervous to call." Aaron saw Shalene relaxing. "Shalene, I know I'm not perfect and I'm not always going to say the right things. Kind of like now." Aaron blushed at the way he seemed to carry on. "I just know I care about you and I have a lot of reasons for it."

FINAL NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: The most amazing friendship I've ever experienced began the relationship between my wife and I, a friendship we added to, but never replaced.

MB1 #4 - Dream Once Lost

A lifelong dream, once experienced can be a difficult thing to recapture. Especially after a long period of time. Aaron Murphy found himself in such a situation and, when the opportunity presented itself again, his reluctance would not be easily overcome. Maybe, not at all?


from Chapter 11 - Top of the Sixth       
       The two headed down the steps to their seats where they saw the coach and Matt standing at the edge of the dugout.
       As soon as Aaron made eye contact, the coach spoke up. “Aaron Murphy. Mike Brown. I'm the pitching coach for the Indians. How’s that arm of yours feeling?”
       “Huh?” Aaron would have dropped the nachos but Shalene quickly stopped the descent as she steadied his hand. She then proceeded to take the soda and hot dog, as well as the nachos from Aaron, putting them on top of the dugout.
       Mike smiled, “Nice catch!”       
       While moving the food down, Shalene smiled and glanced toward the coach. “Thanks.”               Mike then turned to Aaron. “You played some years back.”       
       “Yeah.” Aaron responded, looking at Matt annoyed.       
       “I seem to remember you had a lot of promise. Matt here says you had an arm injury.”                   “That's right.” Aaron faced Matt. “What’s going on?”       
       Mike Brown responded matter-of-fact. “How would you like to try and come back? You’re, what, twenty-eight? That’s not too old. Plus, from the looks of you, you're keeping in shape.”               Aaron stood stiff from shock. “Look, I’m not sure what Matt said to you but I don’t intend to try and start things backup with baseball.”       
       “I understand. How about this. Matt here has your cell, right?”       
       “Yep.” Aaron said sharply while staring at Matt who now ducked back into the dugout, as if someone called him down.       
       Mike continued, “Why don’t I have him call and we’ll go from there?”       
       “Honestly, Mike, I don’t know that I’m worth anything now.”       
       “Well then it’ll be a good time for you two to catch up.”       
       “That would be about it, I think.”       
       “Great!” Responded Mike, as if he heard a different answer. “Enjoy the game and I hope we’ll be talking again soon.”       
       “Nice meeting you.”       
       Matt popped up from the dugout again, only his eyes and fingers visible. “Aaron, I’ll give you a call, okay?”       
       “Sounds good. And we'll definitely talk then.” Aaron replied to clarify his displeasure.

FINAL NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: I've never found myself in such a situation, mainly, because I've never found myself so naturally gifted at something to warrant such attention. Part of me thinks, however, that if I did end up with a situation of being re-discovered, I would jump at the opportunity to try again. Then again, if I was able to live a dream -- like writing professionally, for example -- and if I had to stop for a period of time due to failure, I wonder if I could battle back to the top and try again, especially, if my reasons for staying away surrounded a situation similar to Aaron's. What situation you might ask? That's a question better asked after reading the story, the only way to have a full understanding of what our pasts can do to our future.


More To Come.....