Connor's Story

Connor’s Story

Here is a short story written by me

Connor Schmidt was a very nice boy from the outskirts of Chicago. Unlike his peers he was not very wealthy and his family had to work for what they had. Connor and his dad had a special connection because his mom ran away on his seventh birthday. Connor did not know her very well, but her absence was like a hole in his heart.  It was very difficult for Connor and his dad to spend time together because his dad worked sixty hours a week, but when he was home they spent their nights watching tv and playing catch in his backyard. His favorite baseball team was the Cubs.  He had never been to a Cubs game because his family could not afford it. Every night he would dreamt about catching a home run ball at Wrigley Field. Despite the Cubs being awful for the better part of a century his love for the team was steadfast.   

            Today was the day, Sunday, April fourth, Connor’s birthday. Connor woke up to find three presents sitting on the kitchen table. Instead of opening them up on the spot he decided to wait until his father woke up. When his father marched down the stairs Connor tore open his presents to find a new baseball glove and a video game. The last present was two bleacher seats to the that afternoon's Cubs game. Connor was ecstatic. This was the best birthday that he could have possibly wished for. Connor and his father took the Metra downtown where they walked to Wrigley Field. Wrigley Field was large and overwhelming, and it was everything that Connor dreamed about.

           

Connor had little butterflies in his stomach as he passed through the ticket line. This is the way that he dreamed his first Cubs game would go. They sat down in their seats in time for the national anthem. The atmosphere  Wrigley Field was electric. The singing of the national anthem put chills down Connor's spine. The capacity crowd was ready to start the season. The game began and the Cubs ace Christian Hernandez took the mound. The game went as planned for Connor and his dad. The Cubs were winning three to one going into the top of the ninth inning as closer Martin Jones took the mound. The weather was perfect and the environment was perfect; it was all going according to plan. This had been the best day of Connor’s life. The pitcher, Jones immediately got two outs but he walked the next two batters. The next batter was the opposing team’s power hitter, Carlos Fernandez. Connor was getting nervous and his dad had to assure him that the Cubs were going to win. The count went to one ball and two strikes. The Cubs were on the verge of victory when Fernandez hit one high and deep to left center. Connor reached his glove out, and he caught the ball! As he caught the ball he was locked into a whirlwind of emotion. He immediately hugged his dad and thanked him. He was filled with excitement when he started hearing the familiar “throw it back” cheer. The fans were like bullies to Connor, and he was backed into a corner.  Connor did not know what do to, should he throw it back ruining his dream scenario, or should he keep the ball? Connor had always dreamt of catching a home run; the ball meant something special to him. It was a dream come true for him to catch a home run at Wrigley Field. The day had gone perfectly up until this point. The fans around him screamed and yelled; it felt like they were taking their anger out on Connor. He wanted to throw it back, but he just couldn't let it go. 

            The train ride home was miserable. On the ride home he was noticed and spoken to by at least ten people who realized that he was the same kid from the game. They said things like, “you entitled prick, why didn’t you throw the ball back? Are you a fake fan?” Connor’s dad tried to comfort him the whole time but it all went to waste. Connor just broke down while riding the train. Connor’s dad felt bad that Connor’s special day went extremely wrong, but there was nothing he could do about it.

            The next day at school Connor’s friends made fun of him because he was featured on ESPN as a Cubs fan crying because the team lost. It seemed like this incident at the Cubs game would haunt him forever. He got through the school day and his dad was there when he got home. "Who cares what they said. I would have done the same thing if I were in your shoes." 1