Baseball Banner
by Luisa Kay Reyes
“Ouch!” Garrett exclaimed to himself out loud. His shoulder was aching terribly as he was sitting in his office trying to take care of some last-minute details before he was scheduled for yet another follow-up surgery to remedy the original one that had put an end to his college ball playing days. Like every former ball player who has had their career cut short due to unforeseen circumstances, he secretly harbored the notion that one day he would get a second chance to hit the ball out of the park. But at the rate the surgeries kept mounting, he would be older than the thirty-five-year-old rookie, Jim Morris, before he ever stepped out onto the baseball diamond again––that is to say, stepping out onto the baseball field as a ball player. He actually was on the baseball sandlot nearly every day during the spring to early fall ball playing season as vice president of operations and marketing. It was a term that was just impressive enough sounding to remind him every day that he was a far cry from ever being called up to the major leagues. And now he found himself sitting here trying not to wince with pain while searching for a fill-in due to a last-minute cancellation for their upcoming homestead.
“Rats!” he cried out before he could squelch his discomfort as he turned in his chair. Whenever they held tryouts for National Anthem singers, they managed to draw in quite a crowd. However, when it came time to find a last-minute replacement, none of those eager aspiring singers were available. Scanning his list of returners on his computer screen, he realized they all had let him know they had prior commitments. It was a predicament compounded by the fact that the teams could offer the singers a handful of complimentary tickets and that was all. But at least they didn’t require them to buy a costly set of group tickets like the closest major league team did.
Garrett began looking through some of his emails for anybody he may have missed. There was one he had thought about contacting but given that the video they had sent in for their audition was of some kind of rare format incompatible with the software he had on his computer, it had no sound. Making him not want to bother with giving them another opportunity to show off their singing skills. But now that he took a second glance, the singer looked presentable enough in the video. And with the pangs in his shoulder ever increasing, the last thing he wanted to do was devote any more time to the office. So, he decided to give her a chance before calling it a day.
“Rats!” he cried out before he could squelch his discomfort as he turned in his chair. Whenever they held tryouts for National Anthem singers, they managed to draw in quite a crowd. However, when it came time to find a last-minute replacement, none of those eager aspiring singers were available. Scanning his list of returners on his computer screen, he realized they all had let him know they had prior commitments. It was a predicament compounded by the fact that the teams could offer the singers a handful of complimentary tickets and that was all. But at least they didn’t require them to buy a costly set of group tickets like the closest major league team did.
Garrett began looking through some of his emails for anybody he may have missed. There was one he had thought about contacting but given that the video they had sent in for their audition was of some kind of rare format incompatible with the software he had on his computer, it had no sound. Making him not want to bother with giving them another opportunity to show off their singing skills. But now that he took a second glance, the singer looked presentable enough in the video. And with the pangs in his shoulder ever increasing, the last thing he wanted to do was devote any more time to the office. So, he decided to give her a chance before calling it a day.
Lauren found herself staring at her computer screen in a state of bewilderment. She had auditioned for several opera companies recently, only to be bombarded with messages that she had an especially beautiful voice but regretfully, they had no openings in their upcoming season for her specific voice type. Unable to afford to travel the world for a year auditioning, she had become familiar enough with some of the other faces at the auditions she did manage to go to where she knew who some of the professional auditioners were. Sopranos, baritones, tenors, and the occasional mezzo who were all nervous yet gallant at the same time. It didn’t take one long to realize that they could all be hailed as the next up-and-coming young opera star, if only the occasion would arise for them to be allowed to give proof of their skills on stage.
As Lauren squinted her soft brown eyes to be sure she wasn’t reading anything incorrectly, she was fairly certain she had never included the local baseball team in her round of auditions. However, there was a message asking her if she was available to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” at an upcoming home baseball game. Lauren reached for her planner and sure enough, she didn’t have anything else scheduled for that day. Do I really want to sing before that kind of an audience? she asked herself. Her British ballet teacher when she was younger had forewarned her several times: “You can’t cast your pearls before swine.” It was a somewhat haughty sounding statement, but one that Lauren had found to be true in the local city wide “talent” shows.
Lauren got up to stretch and ponder things for a moment. She was fairly positive that she had never sent in an audition video for this baseball team. Which could only mean one thing: her mother. Lauren felt a smile forming in her face in spite of herself. Her mother must have sent it in without her knowledge. How she managed to do that, given her mother’s severe lack of computer skills, Lauren wasn’t entirely sure. But, so far, by the looks of things, no harm had been done by it. Still, though, it required a certain element of bravery to get up and sing before a sizable audience, especially when rejection had become the norm in her singing career. And lately, Lauren had been overcome by the feeling that skydiving into a forest that was ablaze with a wildfire would be less fraught with peril than trying to pursue an operatic career.
Yielding to her innate curiosity, Lauren walked over to the piano and started sifting through some of her music. Of course, she knew the National Anthem by heart, but it had been some time since she had sung it in her college choir, and she wanted to study the rhyme scheme. As she did so, the imagery began appealing to her. For in spite of terrible hardship, the flag was still there.
“Hang it all!” Lauren found herself commenting with glee. She was a far cry from being a president’s singing daughter like Margaret Truman, but she would exert her best effort in the matter, and there might be worse things in the world than giving it a try. So, she quickly rushed over to the computer and typed up a message agreeing to sing for the upcoming home baseball game.
As Lauren squinted her soft brown eyes to be sure she wasn’t reading anything incorrectly, she was fairly certain she had never included the local baseball team in her round of auditions. However, there was a message asking her if she was available to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” at an upcoming home baseball game. Lauren reached for her planner and sure enough, she didn’t have anything else scheduled for that day. Do I really want to sing before that kind of an audience? she asked herself. Her British ballet teacher when she was younger had forewarned her several times: “You can’t cast your pearls before swine.” It was a somewhat haughty sounding statement, but one that Lauren had found to be true in the local city wide “talent” shows.
Lauren got up to stretch and ponder things for a moment. She was fairly positive that she had never sent in an audition video for this baseball team. Which could only mean one thing: her mother. Lauren felt a smile forming in her face in spite of herself. Her mother must have sent it in without her knowledge. How she managed to do that, given her mother’s severe lack of computer skills, Lauren wasn’t entirely sure. But, so far, by the looks of things, no harm had been done by it. Still, though, it required a certain element of bravery to get up and sing before a sizable audience, especially when rejection had become the norm in her singing career. And lately, Lauren had been overcome by the feeling that skydiving into a forest that was ablaze with a wildfire would be less fraught with peril than trying to pursue an operatic career.
Yielding to her innate curiosity, Lauren walked over to the piano and started sifting through some of her music. Of course, she knew the National Anthem by heart, but it had been some time since she had sung it in her college choir, and she wanted to study the rhyme scheme. As she did so, the imagery began appealing to her. For in spite of terrible hardship, the flag was still there.
“Hang it all!” Lauren found herself commenting with glee. She was a far cry from being a president’s singing daughter like Margaret Truman, but she would exert her best effort in the matter, and there might be worse things in the world than giving it a try. So, she quickly rushed over to the computer and typed up a message agreeing to sing for the upcoming home baseball game.
On the appointed day, Lauren drove to the baseball stadium accompanied by her mother. After a brief rewarming up in the car, she picked up her complimentary tickets at the will-call counter as they waited for her friends to arrive. Just a quick glance at the other people picking up their tickets made it clear that this game was turning into quite the family affair with people bringing their young children and elderly relatives, as well. Lauren also noticed that the stadium was filled with large fans blowing mist to stay cool during the warm weather. The mist felt truly delightful, but Lauren made sure to avoid as much as possible lest the blast of cool air adversely affect her voice.
Before too long, her friends arrived full of smiles as they proceeded to the autograph table where some pitchers were sitting and giving out their autographs. Lauren laughed as her mother proceeded to tell them all about Mickey Mantle, who was her first childhood baseball crush. However, in another surprise of the day, Lauren noticed the pitchers didn’t seem to slough it off as nonsense as if they were enjoying the conversation.
While the baseball stadium wasn’t the Met or La Scala, Lauren was beginning to feel the nerves of excitement rising within her. So, she excused herself and went to the restroom to do some more warming up. She was determined to get the beautiful flowing “ooh” tone that her voice teachers had harped upon her for years right from the first word of the National Anthem. So, she practiced only the beginning part several times before walking back out and introducing herself to the lady at the counter who would let the right people know that she had arrived.
“Lauren,” she heard a masculine voice say. She turned around to see a nice-looking young man with the classic baseball player’s build uttering her name.
“Garrett?” she inquired, more than a little taken aback and at a loss for anything more insightful to say.
“Nice to meet you” he said before promptly escorting Lauren and her entourage down to an area that was blocked off where the in-between-inning-entertainers were getting the giveaway baseballs ready, and the baseball players and coaches were milling back and forth, setting things up in the dugout.
“We’ve never seen this part before,” her friend said in astonishment. Gleaming with excitement when one of the baseball players offered to pose for a picture with her friend’s little toddler, Lauren had to admit, the zeal of the pre-game festivities was beginning to make her blood rush with excitement, too. However, she must focus. So, she sat down on the bench and kept going over the melody, trying to block out the pop music that was blasting far too loudly.
As the clock counted down to the start of the game, the umpires took their place on the field. Garrett came over to get her, handing her a microphone that he informed her would turn on as soon as the announcer finished introducing her by name. Lauren glanced back at her mother and friends; there was no turning back now.
The baseball players from both teams took their places on the field, and the fans in attendance all rose. Just let me get the magical bell tone quality from the first note, please Lord, Lauren prayed silently to herself. And then her name was announced. Lauren held up the microphone, neither too close nor too far from her lips, and began singing. But the microphone wasn’t working. Lauren glanced in Garrett’s direction wide-eyed with “What do I do?” clearly emanating from the ready-to-take-flight expression on her face, to which Garrett merely shrugged his shoulders, nonchalantly.
Well, I am an opera singer, Lauren thought to herself as she let the microphone slide out of her hand. Directing her attention back to the baseball game attendees, she summoned up her full voice and continued singing the National Anthem as passionately as she could. Silence ensued. Even the large train driving past the stadium slowed down to a halt. Once the introductory stanzas were done, Lauren braced herself for the high notes that followed. Sailing through them easily, Lauren even managed to come down gently for the last few notes, all despite her nerves. However, as soon as she finished singing, “and the home of the brave,” she was greeted with effusive applause from the baseball fans. Garrett even came up to her with his eyes sparkling and said, “That was beautiful! You made the world stand still. And the microphone didn’t matter; everybody could still hear you!” Garrett’s sentiment was echoed by the many fans as Lauren walked past them to rejoin her mother and friends.
When Garrett asked if she’d be willing to come back, Lauren couldn’t help but suppress a giggle, for she never thought she would be so glad for a non-working microphone. She unhesitatingly replied in the affirmative. Lauren realized that for the first time in an extensively long while, she felt free to sing…free to sing beautifully.
Before too long, her friends arrived full of smiles as they proceeded to the autograph table where some pitchers were sitting and giving out their autographs. Lauren laughed as her mother proceeded to tell them all about Mickey Mantle, who was her first childhood baseball crush. However, in another surprise of the day, Lauren noticed the pitchers didn’t seem to slough it off as nonsense as if they were enjoying the conversation.
While the baseball stadium wasn’t the Met or La Scala, Lauren was beginning to feel the nerves of excitement rising within her. So, she excused herself and went to the restroom to do some more warming up. She was determined to get the beautiful flowing “ooh” tone that her voice teachers had harped upon her for years right from the first word of the National Anthem. So, she practiced only the beginning part several times before walking back out and introducing herself to the lady at the counter who would let the right people know that she had arrived.
“Lauren,” she heard a masculine voice say. She turned around to see a nice-looking young man with the classic baseball player’s build uttering her name.
“Garrett?” she inquired, more than a little taken aback and at a loss for anything more insightful to say.
“Nice to meet you” he said before promptly escorting Lauren and her entourage down to an area that was blocked off where the in-between-inning-entertainers were getting the giveaway baseballs ready, and the baseball players and coaches were milling back and forth, setting things up in the dugout.
“We’ve never seen this part before,” her friend said in astonishment. Gleaming with excitement when one of the baseball players offered to pose for a picture with her friend’s little toddler, Lauren had to admit, the zeal of the pre-game festivities was beginning to make her blood rush with excitement, too. However, she must focus. So, she sat down on the bench and kept going over the melody, trying to block out the pop music that was blasting far too loudly.
As the clock counted down to the start of the game, the umpires took their place on the field. Garrett came over to get her, handing her a microphone that he informed her would turn on as soon as the announcer finished introducing her by name. Lauren glanced back at her mother and friends; there was no turning back now.
The baseball players from both teams took their places on the field, and the fans in attendance all rose. Just let me get the magical bell tone quality from the first note, please Lord, Lauren prayed silently to herself. And then her name was announced. Lauren held up the microphone, neither too close nor too far from her lips, and began singing. But the microphone wasn’t working. Lauren glanced in Garrett’s direction wide-eyed with “What do I do?” clearly emanating from the ready-to-take-flight expression on her face, to which Garrett merely shrugged his shoulders, nonchalantly.
Well, I am an opera singer, Lauren thought to herself as she let the microphone slide out of her hand. Directing her attention back to the baseball game attendees, she summoned up her full voice and continued singing the National Anthem as passionately as she could. Silence ensued. Even the large train driving past the stadium slowed down to a halt. Once the introductory stanzas were done, Lauren braced herself for the high notes that followed. Sailing through them easily, Lauren even managed to come down gently for the last few notes, all despite her nerves. However, as soon as she finished singing, “and the home of the brave,” she was greeted with effusive applause from the baseball fans. Garrett even came up to her with his eyes sparkling and said, “That was beautiful! You made the world stand still. And the microphone didn’t matter; everybody could still hear you!” Garrett’s sentiment was echoed by the many fans as Lauren walked past them to rejoin her mother and friends.
When Garrett asked if she’d be willing to come back, Lauren couldn’t help but suppress a giggle, for she never thought she would be so glad for a non-working microphone. She unhesitatingly replied in the affirmative. Lauren realized that for the first time in an extensively long while, she felt free to sing…free to sing beautifully.
Luisa Kay Reyes has had pieces featured in The Raven Chronicles, The Windmill, The Foliate Oak, The Eastern Iowa Review, and other literary magazines. Her essay, “Thank You,” is the winner of the April 2017 memoir contest of The Dead Mule School of Southern Literature., and her Christmas poem was a first-place winner in the 16th Annual Stark County District Library Poetry Contest. Additionally, her essay “My Border Crossing” received a Pushcart Prize nomination from the Port Yonder Press. Two of her essays have been nominated for the “Best of the Net” anthology with one of her essays recently being featured on The Dirty Spoon radio hour.