Chapter 40

March

I found the RSD newsletter in my personal mailbox along with some other mail. I gathered it up and stuck it into my backpack. I had so much homework, not even receiving mail could lighten my mood. Teachers seemed to think I was only in their class. Why else would they decide to shovel out so much to do in one night?

I knew that getting as much of the homework done before dinner would leave me that much less to do afterward. Brian, Samantha, and I planned to eat together before heading over to the library. I looked forward to spending time with them. We all liked our study group since it beat doing homework alone.

The winter, like a vengeful beast, didn’t wish to relinquish its hold on the season. If not for the words “First Day of Spring” on the calendar, it could have very well been January 21st. The snow stood knee-deep where paths hadn’t been shoveled along the combination of walkways leading from building to building. Outside, though, the sky looked as blue as any sky on a given mid-spring day. However, the air was crisp and cold. Thankfully, the wind wasn’t blowing. My breath plumed in front of my face and then vanished until I exhaled again.

The snowball seemed to come out of nowhere. It missed me by several feet before burying itself in a snow bank. Turning, I expected to see Samantha, Brian or even Kyle who was back on his feet after taking a few weeks to recover.

Eiji smiled, bent forward, and scooped together two handfuls of snow, packed them into a ball and prepared to throw it, all the while staring at me. I watched as the second snowball flew toward me, but it was too far to my left. In a sluggish manner, I shrugged my backpack off my shoulder and let it drop to the sidewalk. As I watched Eiji scramble to make a third snowball, I crafted one of my own. I crunched the snow into a tight, hard ball. Eiji’s fourth snowball whizzed past me, sailing a few feet over my head.

I took aim, ignoring the icy coldness of the snow in my bare hands, and whipped it with all my might. The snowball struck Eiji in the chest, knocking the boy backwards. Eiji lost his balance and fell butt first into a snowdrift. He got quickly to his feet and went right to work on another snowball. He had not learned his lesson.

I noticed a difference in Eiji’s smile as he scooped enough snow to make a solid baseball-sized snowball. I let him throw first. The snowball he hurled fell short, disappearing into the snow a few feet from where I stood.

Winding up, I pitched my snowball, imagining it traveling at ninety miles an hour before it slammed square into Eiji’s chest, exploding like a paintball against his coat, knocking the kid off balance a second time. Eiji’s arms spun around like a goofy windmill. He did not fall down this time.

Throwing the snowball felt awesome; I hadn’t lost my balance.

I shook my head from side to side in a slow, exaggerated motion, as if disappointed to see that Eiji still wanted to play. Actually, I was glad he wasn’t quitting. I was enjoying myself and relished the opportunity to knock Eiji around with my snowballs. Eiji seemed to be enjoying himself, too.

Eiji was quick. He grabbed up snow, formed it, and threw the snowball while on the move. This one hit me in the arm. It was packed tightly, and though we were at least thirty feet away from each other, it stung when it hit my shoulder. It exploded into powder against my coat.

Unable to help myself, I laughed. I jumped into the snow, looking for cover. I made a snowball and whipped it toward Eiji. He dodged this one, doing a belly flop onto the accumulated snow.

I laughed some more. As Eiji slowly stood up, wiping the snow off his face, coat, and pants, I saw that he was laughing, too.

You got a good arm, Marco, he signed, using my sign name.

The comment almost shocked me. I smiled and shrugged. You don’t, I signed. It was a cautious tease.

Eiji stared at me for a moment, before laughing at the reply. I guess you’re going to try out for pitcher on the team? He walked toward me. I’m thinking about going out for first base.

What are you talking about? I picked up my backpack as he walked toward me.

The school team, Eiji signed. We never had a baseball team before. Soccer and basketball, sure, but never a baseball team. The way you’re always wearing that hat of yours, I guessed you play. He rubbed his chest. But after seeing you throw, I know you play.

I don’t have any idea what you’re talking about. I felt tension knot itself into a pit in the bottom of my stomach.

It’s in this month’s newsletter, Eiji signed. Believe it or not, tryouts are next Monday after classes.

In the snow? I didn’t know why I was surprised. That was when baseball season always started. Even last year, back when I could hear, we met on snowy diamonds for warm-ups and batting practice. Finding a white baseball in the snow was always fun, and usually allowed more than one base to be taken on any hit.

It’s spring, isn’t it? So are you trying out?

I don’t think so. You were wrong. I don’t play, I signed.

You never played baseball?

I used to. I don’t play anymore. I thought about the book I’d received as a gift from Papa Ray.

Why not? You got a great arm. I could see you pitching no-hitters.

At one point, so could I. Long story.

Eiji patted me on the back. Friends? He held out his hand.

I shook it. Friends. But I need to ask you something. Why were you so mad at me?

Eiji’s chest puffed, and then his shoulder deflated. It was quite a sigh. You want to know, to really know?

I do.

It’s Samantha. I know she’s your girlfriend, but I’ve had a crush on her since last year. I was going to tell her this year. Spent all summer working up the courage. Then you come to the school, and everything changes. But if you tell her this, I’ll not only deny it, I’ll pound you. We clear?

Crystal. But Eiji, she’s not my girlfriend. I like her. She’s cool. But we are not boyfriend and girlfriend, I signed.

Eiji smiled. It was small, but there was no doubt it was a smile. You guys aren’t dating?

No.

He pursed his lips, as if saying Hmmm.

I know you’ve seen me with my dad? He signed.

I wasn’t going to bring it up. Not now, anyway. Maybe sometime if we did become friends. Yes, I signed.

My older brother is in college at MIT. My dad is so clearly proud of him, but I think he’s embarrassed of me. Not only am I bad at school, he signed, then laughed, but I’m deaf. I’m a disappointment.

I didn’t know what to say. I wasn’t sure why he was telling me so much. I tried not to make it even more uncomfortable for him.

My dad loves baseball, Eiji signed. When I told him I was trying out for the team, he texted back that I should send him a schedule as soon as it’s available. I don’t know. Maybe that made him less disappointed?

He looked at me like he wanted—or needed—me to agree with his reasoning. So I did. That will be cool having him come to the games! Good luck at the tryouts.

Thanks. And you should think it over. We might be pretty good together, Eiji signed, holding out his hand.

I was just going to shake it, but didn’t. Instead, I showed him the special shake that Patrick and I used. Triple clap, up and over, and clap.

He smiled. We did it two more times, so he could get the hang of it. Then he punched me on the shoulder. Still smiling, he grabbed my coat as I stumbled backwards, losing my balance.