Intimidating Adversity: Day 8

Word Count: 48,041

Summary of Events:

Lane got ready for the wedding and took Devynne to get a better outfit, and a rather emasculate haircut. After the ceremony he got into an argument with his mom over Devynne's haircut, among many other things. Lane skipped out on most of the reception to get his younger siblings home, but managed to have a bit of a party by himself. The next morning he found out from his mom that she'd expected him to babysit his siblings while they were on their honeymoon, but he got out of it. Back in Kannapolis, he was getting closer to ready, and was working by himself in the weight room while waiting for news of if he'd pitch or not . . .

Excerpt of the Day:

""I need to talk to you Sheenan."

Lane startled and turned around to see Mr. Quilley looking at him like he wasn't that happy — then again, it'd sounded like he'd been talking through his teeth.

"Go ahead," Lane said, sitting down on the bench press.

"I've been told that you're not allowed to bat for the rest of the season for the sake of your jaw's recovery," Mr. Quilley said.

"That's what they've told me," Lane replied.

"That means that you're a waste on this team," Mr. Quilley said. "Being as you wouldn't really be allowed to pinch run until the last inning because otherwise you'd have to be replaced and then be useless, if you aren't to bat."

Lane said nothing. He felt like all of his hope and morale had been stripped out from underneath him.

"At least, that's as far as I think," Mr. Quilley said.

Lane wasn't sure if he should let his hopes get up again.

"Mr. Borys, however, has other ideas," Mr. Quilley said. "And being as he's the whole reason you're still on the team, and he's the one who can decide whether I stay or go, I've been put under pressure to go with his idea."

Lane restrained his facial muscles. No smiling, no giving away that he knew what Mr. Quilley was going to have to say next.

"Mr. Borys' idea is that you pitch, because that was what you were brought here for," Mr. Quilley said. "Because, apparently, in his alternate reality, you're some kind of ridiculously good pitcher, even though I have convincing proof in those last seven games that you're the worst pitcher ever to disgrace baseball."

Lane wasn't sure if he could be happy now. He was being belittled, and yet being told he was going to pitch.

"Being as I have two weeks to pitch you or I lose my job, you'll be pitching," Mr. Quilley said.

Lane kept the smile off his face. He wasn't sure if Mr. Quilley was finished or not.

"Being, however, as I am free to choose whatever team I should like to play you against in that period," Mr. Quilley said. "I have taken the liberty of making the best selection."

Being as a smile was bringing up the corners of Mr. Quilley's mouth, Lane had a bad feeling he knew what he was going to be hearing next.

"You will start next Friday," Mr. Quilley said. "Against the Lexington Legends."

Lane watched as Mr. Quilley turned and walked away before closing his eyes and putting his face in his hands. They'd been swept in the season series against Lexington for the last four seasons, and before that they'd lost the season series for some five seasons too!

Lexington walked all over Kannapolis like they were an MLB team playing a kiddie league team comprised of five year olds who didn't even know what the rules of baseball even were, much less the concept behind it.

After pitching the worst seven games of his career over six months ago he was going to be put in for his first game against them? Maybe he should quit pitching."