The Ball
by Michael Morse
The fires in the batter’s eyes grow; pupils full flame as the ball approaches, zipping toward home. Muscles twitch, bones move, electric currents only I can see encompass the form as his body strikes, swinging the bat in perfect symmetry with the approaching ball. A “crack,” the ball shoots from the bat, the crowd rises.
I fight the urge to fly, knowing that would shake up the crowd. Fun, yes, but foolish. Instead, I use this cumbersome form to give chase, purposely slowing my movements so nobody will know my potential. It is difficult running slowly, to run at all. Difficult, yet exhilarating, physical exertion something I’m just now beginning to enjoy, some thirty years after inhabiting this body. Thirty thousand sets of eyes follow my path, anticipation filling the ball park as I purposely make it look hard. They rise from their seats as I leave the grass, leaping, stretching, extending…catching!
They roar. The sound fills me with a foreign sensation. They call it happiness. We have no word for this feeling, or any of the others that invade my consciousness every second that I spend here.
Soon they will call me home, and my world will turn red, and this thing called emotion will burn away. Until then, I shall bask in the glory of humanity, and tip my cap to these beings who worship me, without knowing my true nature, only that I make them happy because I can catch and hit a ball better than they.
Really? No trips to the ER, no daredevil resuscitation? Lt, I'm disappointed.
ReplyDeleteOkay, actually I'm not because this prompt has way too many dark themes anyway. I know nothing about baseball but I love the warmth of the tone of this piece.
Fun, and thought-provoking too.
ReplyDeleteI too loved the execution of your concept. This was what we were hoping "Heroes" would eventually turn out to be like. Its better to keep mum about how it eventually did turn out.
ReplyDeleteYour protagonist has a voice that is a mix of superiority, sorrow and humbleness, that is just so hard to write down. Reminded me of the film 'Angels in the outfield'. Though, those angels didn't hold back.
Hehehehehe. So is that what our sports stars really think? :) :)
ReplyDeleteI keep thinking about Men in Black! This is like the literary version.
ReplyDeleteHa! Men in Black! Just when I think I had an original thought, I realize this was a culmination of Angels in the Outfield, Heroes and Men in Black! But that's okay, it sure beats writing about death and dismemberment, I think I like this fiction stuff. Thank you for reading and commenting, much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteI totally dig this! I Like the way the fuzzy Point of view becomes clear when the visitor/inhabitant reveals the time spent in the body. Love the way the outsider perceives the importance of sports figures. Makes me curious about this being. Very cool. I'd read on for sure if there was more.
ReplyDeleteI liked the outside view of what it's like to inhabit our bodies and feel emotions. I feel sorry that he has to go back and lose it all, although being able to fly would be cool!
ReplyDeleteYou strike a great balance between everyday life and the supernatural. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteSo...there really are angels in the outfield...or is it a demon? The demonic need to be the best. Kinda like that....
ReplyDeleteDottie :)
I knew it had to be more than those enhancement drugs that make some of the players hit so well! Thanks for sharing your piece (although I was sure ball players were possessed by little devils rather than angels...). :) ~Jana A.
ReplyDeleteHa! With every comment, I want to say, "Hey, yeah, I agree with that, too!" I really don't have much to add. I really like this main character but feel a little sorry for the soul whose body he stole. The inevitability of returning to his dying world appears to be accepted with grace in resignation.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the feedback, and good luck everybody, but I think all of these stories are winners, every one that I read was interesting at least, and fantastic at best. I read a lot and missed a lot, just not enough time in the day to read them all, or original thoughts in my head to comment on those I did read.
ReplyDeleteI know this being is living in someone else's body but I feel so sorry and so happy for him! I hope the memory of the emotion of happiness will linger longest! take care
ReplyDeletex
Original take, Michael, and written with an energetic feel.
ReplyDeleteRegards,
Col
I love the concept of emotion being a purely human trait; you explored that well here. Very nicely written.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing!
OK I'll admit that it's rare for anything about baseball to hold my interest, but this story is great, I like the premise.
ReplyDeleteI liked this interpretation quite a bit, Michael. Emotion as an alien's drug, in a quintessentially American domain.
ReplyDeleteI think one needs a ball park to contain the breadth of our emotions. Well done.
Thanks again for the feedback, the writer's drug! Much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteMichael... I, too, appreciated the break from the darkness. This is a cool story, nicely told.
ReplyDeleteMichael - I loved this story. I enjoyed feeling the physical exertion and the thrill of the game with your alien character. Well done.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Janey and Richard, and everybody who read my story, especially those who left a comment! I tried to read all of the stories but simply didn't have time. The ones I read I tried to comment on, but sometimes words escaped me, and I had to go and never made it back. I read every one of the people who left me a comment, and if I did not return the kindness, my apologies, I just get overwhelmed and speechless now and then.
ReplyDeleteGreat fun though, and well worth the time invested!
An angel, I believe, having a wonderful time. Yeah, a lying catch would stir up the crowd indeed! Very good writing.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on Forties Club!