“For every ball not caught, five sit-ups for the
entire team, while the wrongdoers stand
alone and watch.” Those
dreaded words fill in my ears. Meant to
encourage Varsity-worthy throws, for me, the rule
encourages more stress and missed balls.

Suddenly, the softball
smacks into the red bleachers behind my partner, sounding like a
gunshot. In pure
humiliation, I stand
alone with my partner. Sorrow stirs inside me as I
apologize profusely to my teams.

Cringing, I watch another softball
smack into the red bleachers behind my partner, sounding like a
gunshot.
Again, my team is
punished for my mistake.
Again, I stand with my partner,
watching and standing
alone.