I couldn’t shake my nerves.

“I can’t do it!” I stared at the glove and ball that were mocking me.

“Yes, you can,” Dad said as he handed me a glove and bat.

“Dad, this isn’t Boca Ciega High School. People were used to me there. They knew me and grew up with me. They accepted me.”

He placed my lucky Red Sox ballcap on my head and put both of his hands on my shoulders. “You’ve got this, kiddo.”

Mr. Elliot waved at us, then looked at his daughter who was chattering away next to him.

“I’ve told him all about you. I even had coach Ray from Boca Ciega call him.”

“Really?” I asked with a hint of a smile. “Alright, alright, I’m going.”

I walked onto the field. Coach Elliot told me take the pitcher mound, and I looked at Dad. He had been pushing for me to try out for pitcher at my old school. I stretched my arm and got it warmed up. One of the guys threw the ball toward me. I opened the glove, and when the ball hit the middle, I closed the leather around it.

Everyone got in their positions, and I held the ball, turning it slowly in my hand as I stared at the batter. I got in position, took a steadying breath, and just as I swung my arm to throw the ball, some guy whistled and another shouted something about not throwing like a girl. I stood up straight and gripped the ball tightly.

I looked at my dad. He smirked at me, and I smiled back.

Throw like a girl? I laughed to myself. Alright, I’ll throw like a damn girl.

I looked at the batter, blew gently on the ball, and wiped it on my shirt for luck. I got in position again, turning to the side and spreading my feet apart. I looked to my left and winked at the guy who whistled. I then smirked at the guy who made the “throwing like a girl” comment before turning my attention back to the batter. Game on. I wound up my arm and threw the ball so fast that the guy holding the meter next to Coach Elliot started freaking out.

I shook my hand and blew on it like I was putting out a fire. I almost took a satisfying bow but decided that would be a bit too much.

“About time we got a good pitcher,” Coach said with a smile.

AFTER AN HOUR and a half, I showed my skills in the outfield, as batter, and as pitcher. The guys who doubted me now looked at me with respect. I looked over and saw Mr. Shaw, Zach I found out his name was, leaning against the fence watching me. The coach was talking to him, but he kept his eyes on me.

The redhead who whistled at me came up to me and gave me a high five.

“I’m Dane. Sorry about the whistle; it’s the first time I’ve seen such a hot pitcher. But seriously, that was sick, dude!”

I laughed and then noticed the whole team surrounded me. It made me miss my boys from back home. The team started asking me questions about my old school and about the position I played there. I was trying my best to answer everyone but so many were talking to me at once. Thankfully, Coach blew his whistle, causing us all to look at him.

“Hey, everyone! Pizza’s here!” Coach yelled out.

We all went over and started digging in. Dad didn’t look happy about the pizza, but there wasn’t much he could say since the coach got it for us.

The day had turned out better than I thought it would. I hadn’t laughed that hard in a long time. It felt like I knew the guys on the team my whole life.

“You seriously mooned everyone in the stands last year?” I asked Dane as I tried to stop laughing so I wouldn’t choke on the bite of pizza I had just took.

“Yeah, the guys dared me to and said if I didn’t, they’d spread a stupid rumor about me. It all happened from a bet. What were we even betting on?” Dane asked everyone. They all started trying to figure out what the bet was, but my attention turned to Coach’s brother who was walking over.

“Your dad didn’t exaggerate,” Zach said quietly next to me before walking off and heading toward the parking lot. I took a drink of my Gatorade and watched him get in his truck. I took my focus off him when Coach started talking to us all about positions and the upcoming season.

Dad and Mom came to stand next to me, and all the other parents came to stand with their kids. Maybe Stockbridge wouldn’t be so bad. I could tell the guys here were serious about playing ball, which was very important. Dad put his arm around me, and I smiled up at him when he kissed the top of my head.

I needed a day like today. I needed the boost of confidence to get through this move because it was difficult. Leaving my friends and the only home I had ever known was like a hard blow to the chest. But today… It felt like Stockbridge gave me a big bear hug and said, “It’s all going to be alright, kid.”