The Hitting Zone

"Jake!"

"Wake up, Jake!"

"Get Mom and Dad!"

There was screaming. A lot of screaming. It was so loud. I twisted and turned.

"Give him some space." A deep voice commanded, soothing me a little. "Jake. It's time to wake up, Jake."

I blinked. Blinked again. I reached up to rub my eyes.

Dad was right next to me. Just beyond him were the twins. Noah. Mom.

I looked at them blankly, unsure of what was happening. I shivered, feeling cold. My face felt strange. I causally gave it a wipe, finding that it was wet. I was wet. I swiped under my eyes. I was crying.

"It's okay, Jake. You're okay." Dad gave my leg a pat.

I looked up at him and shivered again. "I'm c-cold." My teeth started to chatter.

Mom inched closer. She spoke softly. "Why don't you go take a warm shower? Get that sweat washed off and get into some clean pajamas?"

I nodded. I wanted to take a hot shower. I untangled myself from the blankets and comforter with Dad's help. Once I was up on my feet, I started to sway. "I don't feel so good."

"I've got you." Dad helped me to the connecting bathroom.

My stomach churned and I knew what was coming. I leaned over the toilet and my dinner came back up.

"What should we do?" I heard Dave in the distance.

"Why don't you guys sleep on the couches in the living room?" Mom suggested.

I spat and gasped for air.

"Take it easy." Dad rubbed my back. "Do you want to rinse your mouth?"

I nodded.

He helped me to the sink and turned it on.

I quickly rinsed my mouth. "They don't have to sleep on the couch. I'll go."

"You're sick, Jake." Dad told me.

"I'll be okay after a shower." I shook a little bit and held the sink. "Please. Don't make them go." I didn't want to displace them. This was their house first. The twins had this room all their life. Maybe if it was just me and Noah like it used to be, I wouldn't think too much, but now there's three of them to the one me.

"Okay. I'll tell them." Dad squeezed my shoulder. "Stay here. Let me grab your clean clothes so you can shower in the other bathroom." He left me to go talk to the others.

Mom came in shortly after, keeping some distance. I vaguely remember that last time I got sick like this, I yelled at her or something. Scared her. I clenched the sink.

"Is your stomach still upset, kiddo?" Mom asked, leaning against the door frame.

I shook my head. Then nodded. "I don't know. It's-" I paused. "I can't tell."

"That's okay." Mom said. "Rinse your mouth a few more times. After you shower, you can brush your teeth."

Dad came up behind her, holding my clothes. "I've got the boys to lay back down. I'm going to go put your clothes in the other bathroom. Get the shower started so it'll be warmer in there." He disappeared.

I pushed away from the sink, done with rinsing my mouth. Mom hovered closer to me, afraid I might fall. Feeling bad, I reached out to her like she did for me after the game. She accepted me immediately, half-hugging me to the other bathroom. She patted and smoothed down my hair.

"It's going to be alright, Jake. Everything is going to be alright. Your dad and I will be just outside the bathroom. If you need anything, just call out." Her voice cracked like she had been the one to cry.

Sure enough, after I showered and got in new pjs, the pair were just outside my door. They weren't alone. Grampa was just outside his room, the one I used to share with Noah. The three of them took me downstairs and got me settled on one of the couches. I was surrounded by pillows and blankets. Mom started to put crackers and water nearby. Dad brought an empty wastebasket from their office and put it right beside the couch.

Grampa sat on the other couch, turned on the tv, and started to flip through channels. "Mary, Wayne, you two should go to bed. I've got it from here."

"Dad, no, you need to sleep too." Mom told him. "I'll stay with Jake just in case."

I watched as the three tried to decide who should stay with me. It made me feel good. Like I was wanted. Like I was safe. I couldn't tell who had won since I drifted off to sleep.

It was more peaceful the second time around. I woke up naturally, feeling like the living room had some natural light to it. I sat up and looked out the windows. The sun was a bit too high to be morning. The house was also too quiet.

"They kept you home from school today." Grampa's voice startled me. He had shuffled back in the room and sat down on the other couch. "It sounded like you needed a mental health day."

"Oh." I laid back down and pulled the blankets tighter. If I didn't have to go to school, then I'm going to stay comfortable.

"Do you want to eat anything yet?" Grampa leaned forward to get a better look at me.

I shook my head. "No. I'm not really hungry."

"Do you think you might throw up again?"

I shook my head again. "Not really. I just don't feel like eating." I looked around. "Did everyone leave?"

Grampa nodded. "Those boys went to school. Wayne and Mary also went. To talk to your coach and that doctor of yours."

I knew what doctor he was talking about. Dr. Moore was the only doctor I saw frequently. Less so now. And maybe that was a problem. I sighed.

"Don't get down on yourself." Grampa must have heard how deep my sigh was. "There's nothing wrong with needing a mental day or two. Considering what had happened to you and where you are now, I think you're doing great."

"If I was great, I wouldn't need a shrink." I muttered. I caught him giving me a look. I pulled my blanket closer. "It's embarrassing. I-"

"It's not embarrassing. Getting help is good. Being helped is good." Grampa told me. "I'm high school, it's normal to feel embarrassed about everything. But unless you're caught farting during a speech, then is it really so bad?"

My lips twitched. "But...now...everyone is probably going to know."

"Know what?" Grampa shrugged. "From what Noah told me, your coach is on your side. You're the best hitter around. Why change? Especially on some advice from some other kid who is not doing as well?"

"I just don't like everyone thinking-"

"Same." Grampa cut me off. "I don't like anyone thinking either. It's overrated. We do it too much."

I let out a small laugh.

I heard something coming from the front door. Like it was being unlocked from the outside. Then some footsteps.

I was frowning, trying to figure out why Mom and Dad didn't just come from the garage like normal, when a surprising face showed up in the living room. I sat upright even faster. "Zeke!"