A Life of Inches Read online

  A Life of Inches

  Douglas Esper

  A Life of Inches

  Copyright © 2015 by Douglas Esper. All rights reserved.

  First Print Edition: May 2015

  Limitless Publishing, LLC

  Kailua, HI 96734

  www.limitlesspublishing.com

  Formatting: Limitless Publishing

  ISBN-13: 978-1-68058-141-6

  ISBN-10: 1-68058-141-4

  No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to locales, events, business establishments, or actual persons—living or dead—is entirely coincidental.

  Dedication

  For Michele: My compass, my teammate, after eight quick years of grinding away at this book, you deserve a break, but tomorrow we start on the next one.

  Love you.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter One

  April 13, 1990

  I’m just a few inches ahead.

  “Loser washes the dishes,” I call out to my friend, Woodie.

  He and I are racing our bikes home from the baseball diamond to catch the first pitch of the Cleveland Indians game on TV.

  Woodie angles to pass on my left. “You are slow like girly man.”

  He and I compete in everything we do, including our imitations of Hanz und Franz. I chuckle and keep pumping to keep my lead. His bike screams down the hill toward the finish line, a bright red rocket.

  We’ve raced these streets for years, so we know how to exploit our surroundings, from the broken fence in Mrs. Newton’s yard to the skateboard ramp in the Fraziers’ driveway. Jumping off the sidewalk and onto the street, I swerve a few inches to avoid an overturned garbage can. I spy the key to victory ahead. An orange Camaro muscles toward the T-shaped intersection at the bottom of the hill. If I time this right, I’ll be dashing through the intersection ahead of the car while Woodie, zooming down the opposite end of the road, will have to slow down and swerve behind it. This won’t be a huge obstacle, but it should provide just enough distraction to force my fiercest competitor to forfeit any chance of victory.

  Woodie launches his bike over a square of freshly tilled earth and gets rewarded with a blast of cold hose water as he passes the furious gardener. I dart into the intersection a few seconds ahead of the car. Sacrificing a little control, I peek back and see Woodie pumping his pedals, right into the Camaro’s path. If he’s not careful, I’ll be scraping him off Robindale Boulevard.

  The car plows through the intersection, blasting a song by The Clash that the driver has taken the liberty to make a duet. Its brakes engage with a squeal as the wannabe vocalist finally notices the daredevil bike racer attempting to skirt right in front of the car.

  After crossing the finish line, I whip my bike around just in time to see the actual collision. A thick layer of smoke billows from the tires as they overheat from the friction of the brakes and the road.

  Woodie’s bike catches the brunt of the impact as he attempts to leap over the sleek muscle car.

  A scream catches in my throat. Woodie’s right ankle clips the Camaro’s roof, sending him spinning face-first toward the street with nothing to break his fall. This is bad, real bad. This is Herb Score getting hit in the face with a line drive bad. Visions of donating a liver, giving blood, and missing football practice to help Woodie get his wheelchair home all race in my mind as I dump my bike.

  Calling for my friend, I rush toward the scene of the accident.

  Woodie’s legs writhe on the ground as I round the car, but the longhaired bastard that couldn’t control the Camaro blocks the rest of him. The lack of cries of surprise or pain ratchets up my concern. Woodie hasn’t answered my repeated calls nor, as far as I can tell, uttered even a single peep since he landed on the street.

  Anxiety ripples off the driver like too much cheap cologne, but underneath the worry a subtle scent emanates, like a patch of lilac hidden deep in a peach tree orchard.

  In a matter of seconds I transform from someone hell-bent on doing anything to help his best buddy into a man fighting for the attention of the most beautiful girl he’s ever laid eyes on.

  Now that I can see the driver’s face, I recognize Molly from my school and I can’t take my eyes off of her. “Y-you okay, buddy?”

  Even to me, my voice sounds insincere, like the last thing in the world I care about is the well-being of my friend who was just bull-rushed by a car. I know if I split my focus between my buddy and the beauty I will be useless to both of them. In my eyes, there’s only one thing I can do.

  A quick glance confirms my friend’s still breathing, so I forget about Woodie.

  No longer will I identify him as my good friend who might be disfigured after getting hit by a car and needs me to avenge his injury. Woodie is now the only obstacle between me and Ms. Big Green Eyes, habit-forming lips, body of a goddess, who likes good music such as The Clash, and judging from the huge Cleveland Browns #19 sticker on the bumper of her mint condition Camaro also loves football.

  As the all-too-long yet all-too-true nickname forms in my mind, Molly registers my presence.

  Gentle as a swift kick to the stomach, I realize that although tears are streaming down her face, her grin and giggles express flirtatious relief. Somehow Woodie, the lucky bastard, has turned a horrible crash into a chance encounter with the most gorgeous student at our school. Not only has he escaped without any serious injuries, my friend has emerged from facing serious injury chuckling like a badass in the process. His arms are cradled around his chest, probably to alleviate the sting in his vibrating ribs.

  Molly leans down and places a hand on Woodie’s elbow. “I’m so, so sorry.”

  Her voice rings sweet with a confident edge, a mixture of Annie Lennox and Pat Benatar. She inquires about his evident bruises, but of course most of them are from playing sports long before the accident.

  I step closer, clearing my throat of emotion. “Woodster, let me help you up.”

  My voice comes out as a scratchy cough rather than the macho boom I’d hoped for. Still catching my breath, I become self-conscious about the massive amount of sweat pouring down my face and wipe away as much of it as I can with my already damp MC Hammer T-shirt.

  Without turning away from my friend, Molly says, “Let’s get him up together. You grab that arm, I’ll get this one.”

  Lost in her presence, I stare but do not respond.

  She glances back at me, her attention breaking
me from my inaction. I puff up my chest and attempt a neutral expression. “Uh, right. Don’t worry, I’m here, bud.”

  We help Woodie to his feet. Making sure my biceps flex when I “accidentally” brush her arm, I end up impressed by the tone in her muscles instead.

  Though Woodie escaped with all of his bones unbroken, I notice his bike wasn’t so lucky. The bend in the front of the frame curves so severely it resembles a piece of modern art more than a functional transportation method.

  “Hi, I’m Molly. You’re that hotshot baseball player, right?”

  I pivot to shake her hand, but she’s introducing herself to Woodie. I freeze, my hand sticking out like the Tin Man in need of oil.

  Woodie introduces himself, and then says, “This is my buddy, Ryan.”

  Molly and I share a fleeting moment as she nods her head. Even in the bright sunshine I observe the faint freckles dotting the tops of her cheeks. ‘Cute’ would be an insult.

  Molly points to the mangled metal frame and wheels. “Can I give you a lift home?”

  Woodie flashes me a pleading glance.

  I step forward, placing a hand on his shoulder. Though I’m happy to help out a friend, I still need to conceal jealousy and resentment from my tone. I opt for a caring, helpful approach, which isn’t far from my true feelings anyway. “Hey Woodie, you shouldn’t be riding anymore. You landed pretty hard and look dizzy. Why don’t I just walk your bike home?”

  This sucks.

  Molly gives me a double take. “Whoa, hey are you Michael Kelly’s son?”

  Her question catches me off guard, so I tilt my head like a dog who just heard a high-pitched whistle. “Yeah, how do you know my dad?”

  “Well, you know Senator De Leon?”

  I nod. “Who doesn’t? She’s on the front page like every day talking about one cause or another.”

  “Bingo. I’m her daughter. I’ve been to several of the benefits your father has helped organize for my mother’s campaigns.”

  I know nothing about politics or why my dad helps her out, so I’m at a loss on how to keep the conversation going.

  Luckily, Molly adds, “I think you and I had Chemistry last year.”

  “Hey, I think we still have it.”

  My feeble attempt at flirting nets me a roll of her beautiful eyes, but I also detect the slightest blush in her cheeks.

  Smart enough to fear that the tide has shifted, Woodie interrupts. “Hey Ryan, catch.”

  He tosses something small and metallic in my direction. Before I snatch it out of the air, one-handed, I know what he threw. Woodie and I have a running joke about a “lucky” golden baseball mitt strung on a necklace. Whenever one of us needs extra karma, we pass it along to help out.

  “You keep it, man. I think that thing is cursed.” He winces. “Man, my arm is starting to swell up. Thanks for watching my bike, dude. You won the race today, though you have Molly here to thank more than anything.”

  As they drive away, I’m left walking two bikes home by myself.

  At home, I finish off the dishes Woodie should’ve been shamed into doing and flip on the game. The Indians win, but I watch the game alone. Molly and Woodie never show up.

  Chapter Two

  August 10, 1991

  Omar De Leon raises his hand and waves a twenty. “Three bags of peanuts, please.”

  The seats at Municipal Stadium are less than a third full, yet this crowd doubles the average it’s hosted since opening day. The summer sun beats down, warm enough that the Oakland A’s must feel like they’re back at home in California.

  Molly gives her father an admonishing glare while pointing at Woodie and I. “Just so we’re clear, Dad, I’m not sharing with these hooligans.”

  Omar chuckles, but Molly’s expression is dead serious.

  As Jose Canseco takes a few practice swings on his way to the plate, Omar regards the rest of us with a questioning glance, and then grabs another ten dollars. “Make that six bags?”

  Woodie and I sit on either side of Molly, who has become fast friends with us ever since we “accidentally” met. Though she and Woodie hit it off that day, she told him she wasn’t looking for a boyfriend because her mom didn’t allow her to date.

  My dad passes me the remaining bags of peanuts. I hold Molly’s out to her. “Want me to open that for you?”

  “Thanks, but I got this, tough-guy.” Molly hands Woodie his bag and then opens hers.

  We found out quickly that our new friend is as athletic as us and as competitive as she is pretty. Her toned, sun-kissed leg brushing against mine is cause for excitement, but I keep my cool in front of the others.

  As a former baseball coach my dad loves to quiz us on strategy during the game. “They’ve got a speedster on first and the guy at the plate is a power-hitting outfielder. Your pitcher has an average move to first at best, but your catcher has a cannon to second. The count is 1-0 and there are no outs. What’ll the next pitch be?”

  Just like that, none of us are focused on peanuts—or how sunburned we all are because my dad forgot sunscreen.

  Considering what I know of the Indians’ manager, of the players, and the much-lauded defense, I’m certain of what they’ll do. “Pitch out.”

  Woodie snorts. “Really?”

  “Sure. If the guy on first is that fast, you want to put the ball in the catcher’s hand and allow him to make the play.”

  “Good answer,” Omar chimes in.

  Molly pops in a peanut, shell and all. “Playing scared, are you, Ryan?”

  My dad leans forward. “What about you, Woodster?”

  His answers always bend toward the most aggressive approach. “I go right at the batter with everything I have. I’m a pitcher with a wicked slider facing a power hitter who thrives off the fastball. Go at him, strike him out, and hit the showers. Why risk someone biffing a ball, misreading the field, or losing it in the sun? You have an ace for a reason.”

  He finishes his answer as the pitcher comes set. The pitch starts off high and wide before executing a sharp curve back across the plate. The ball angles less than an inch under the bat.

  The ump raises his hand behind the plate. “Steee-riiiike.”

  I pat Woodie’s shoulder in congratulations for guessing against the pitch-out. Yet the main reason for my goodwill gesture is to wrap my arm around Molly, if only for a moment. I give her a squeeze. She focuses on me, surprised but not annoyed.

  The pitcher comes set again. Unwinding, he hurls a fastball in tight. The count goes to one and two, still no pitchout. Our entire section stands, expecting a strikeout—as Woodie predicted.

  The pitcher looks back the runner toward first, and then begins his windup.

  The runner goes. He gets a great jump and it looks like an easy stolen base, but then the catcher stands and reaches out his arms to the right of the plate. It’s a pitchout. In a blur of speed, the catcher has the ball in and out of his glove and guns the ball toward second base. The runner slides face first. The second baseman slips a bit, but like a cat in a free-fall, he regains both his balance and his focus on the ball.

  Here’s the slide, the tag—

  The second base ump raises his hand into a fist and slams it toward the ground as if swatting a huge fly that has been pestering him. “Oooouutt.”

  The crowd erupts, a frenzied tornado of noise and…peanuts? Henry, Woodie’s father, and Omar howl together, engaging in some sort of awkward celebratory chicken dance. I slap high-fives with Molly and Woodie. A few peanut shells crunch on my seat as I sit back down. Everyone within three rows notices the empty bag in my dad’s hand and his blushing cheeks.

  My dad shrugs his shoulders, and says, “That was a close one. Hey, I’m hungry. Anyone have any peanuts left?”

  In unison, the other five members in our party tighten up our bags and shift away from him. This unplanned coordination brings chuckles from each of us, as well as some onlookers.

  Music blaring over the loudspeakers helps announce a break in
the action. The Indian’s manager pops out of the dugout to stall the game so a relief pitcher can get warmed up.

  Woodie asks, “What could be better? Baseball at the park, a rare cloudless day in Cleveland, surrounded by good friends, and of course a bag of peanuts.”

  I totally agree. “This is the life.”

  Omar thrusts a bag of peanuts in front of Woodie, Molly, and me. “I want each of you to grab one shell and hide it in your hands without anyone else seeing.”

  Curiosity piqued, I raise an eyebrow at Molly to see if she has any idea what’s going on. Her furrowed brow and unsteady grin are answer enough that her mustached father’s motives are unknown to her.

  Reaching in first, I grab a peanut shell. I close my fist, making sure to keep it hidden as ordered. Woodie and Molly follow suit.

  I say, “Ready when you are, Mr. De Leon.”

  Instead of addressing us, however, he turns toward the other two adults. “Gentlemen, grab a peanut.”

  They follow his instructions, sharing a curious glance.

  My dad holds his fist out. “What next, Big O?”

  Omar slips his hand in the bag. “Hold on. I need mine.”

  This last peanut drawn from the bag takes longer than the rest of ours combined. Omar hams it up while searching for the perfect shell. Offering a glance at each of us in turn, he at last removes his hand from the bag.

  With his receding hair blowing in the summer wind, Omar shows his tight fist guarding his shell. “Contestants, are you ready?”

  Some of the people sitting nearby watch us for entertainment while a new pitcher jogs in from left field.

  “Uh, for what, Dad?” asks Molly. The blistering sun seems intent on intensifying Molly’s sunburn until her skin tone blends with her dark red hair.

  “Why, for the latest craze sweeping Ohio, my sweet daughter.” Omar exaggerates his voice into a booming, cartoonish tone, like a game show host. “You see, one lucky man from this trio of old fogies is going to buy a round of sodas, and one of you three is going to go get ‘em for us.”