The Game

Huntington Ave Ball Park ca 1903

Ramona sat in Stephen’s automobile trying her hardest not to be sick on the smooth leather seat. Stephen was a good driver, but she still felt sick every time she was in an automobile.

“Are you feeling alright?” she heard Stephen ask. She gulped hard before she made a reply.

“I feel a little ill, but not to bad. Where are we going?” She wanted to ask questions to keep her mind off the car turning and speeding along. She could see a smile creeping onto Stephen’s face.

“I am not telling you, we only have a block left.”

Ramona scrunched up her face. She had no idea where they were. She had not been to this part of Boston much, so she could not recognize landmarks. Stephen had told her to put on a simple dress, and a straw hat because they would be outside. That is all she knew, that they would be outside. Yet this part of Boston did not have any parks or pretty little wildernesses to get lost in for an afternoon. The car turned and Ramona saw large crowds of people walking towards the Huntington Ave Ball Park.

“Oh Stephen!” She exclaimed with delight “Is that where we are going? A baseball game?”

Stephen chuckled “It is.” Ramona no longer noticed the motion of the car, nor her queasiness, she was far too excited. She had never been to a Baseball game in her life! The game was quite popular, but her mother had not wanted her outside for that long. How she had begged to go to the games with Jeremy and Papa, but had never been allowed.

Stephen parked the car and got out to open Ramona’s door. She leaped out in excitement, feeling like a little girl. She could not believe Stephen had remembered that she had always wanted to go to a Baseball game. She looked into his green eyes, that were shining with laughter as a broad smile played across her own face. Stephen took her hand and led her to the entrance.  There were so many people, bustling around, getting ready for the game. There were children, clinging to their father’s hands, groups of chattering women, and clusters of men making bets on who would win. There was so much to take in.  Stephen handed a man their tickets and he pointed them towards a section of seats. Stephen led Ramona down the stairs. Soon they found their seats and sat down.

“Oh Stephen this is wonderful!”

He laughed, “I remembered that you had never been to a game. I asked your father at work yesterday if I could take you to one.”

“You will have to tell me the rules so I don’t make a fool of my self”

“You could never make a fool of you self” He said quietly, “But I will explain the rules if you like. What do you know about the game?”

Ramona bit her lip, trying to remember everything her brother and father had said about Baseball. She rattled off how she knew about outs and innings, bases and pitches. Stephen pointed out players like Bunny Madden, Ray Collins, Harry Hooper, and Duffy Lewis, and told her about a few rules she had left out.  Today the Red Sox were playing the Philadelphia Athletics. Both teams were wearing white uniforms, and the only way to distinguish between the two was the bright red stockings the home team wore.  Ramona felt gittery. The energy from the stands was electrifying! There were venders running up and down the aisles carrying boxes filled to the brim with peanuts, popcorn, crackerjacks, and ice cold lemon aids. Stephen ordered two of the lemon-aids and two bags of popcorn and they ate as they watched the game. 

“Are you enjoying yourself?” Stephen whispered in her ear. Ramona turned to him.

“Oh yes! It is so…” She could not find the right word to describe what this was like. Then she found one, “magical.”

Stephen laughed, “It is indeed!”

“Did you come to the games as a boy?”

He nodded “Yes, with my father and brother.”

“Eric, right?”

“Yes, Eric.”

“You said your brother is going to be in town in a week, yes?”

Stephen raised his brow, “Why do you ask?”

Ramona blushed and turned away, pretending to refocus on the game “No reason.”

She could sense Stephen’s gaze on her.

“I want you to meet him,” he said.

Ramona looked back at him, her eyes wide. “You want me to meet your brother?”

“Yes.”

She was stunned. She had not even met William’s sister until they were engaged, what did this mean? She decided not to over think it.

“Does your brother have a girl?” She asked, getting to the reason she had asked about Eric in the first place.

“Well… He told me that he had courted a girl at college, but it had not worked out. Why?” 

“Well, do you think he would like to meet Sarah?”

She saw Stephen pounder this for a moment. “I don’t know Mona... Are you sure Sarah wants to be set up? From what I gather she is pretty independent.”

“You said you liked Sarah!”

“I do! I do! I am just trying to imagine her and my brother together.”  

“What is the harm in trying? Sarah would meet him if I asked her.”  She looked at him, pouting a little.

“Alright, I see no harm in it.”

“What is your brother like? In case Sarah asks.”

Stephen chuckled again, “We are different, as different as two brothers could be.”

“How so?”

Stephen looked towards the game “Well… you see we had a disagreement after my father died. Father had wanted Eric to study law and attend Harvard like myself, but Eric would not have it. He took all his inheritance money and went to a school in Pennsylvania to study English.  I was furious at him from not being wise with his money. He gambled it and barley had enough to pay his tuition. I am still a little angry with him, but he is my brother regardless.”

Ramona nodded. She could understand that.

“What school does he go to?” 

But the cheers that erupted from the stands drowned her question out. Neither of them had been watching the game so they nearly missed Ray Collins hit the ball out of the park. Ramona jumped to her feet, showering Stephen with popcorn. He was on his feet too, but he was looking at her, and not Collins rounding third base.  Ramona looked at him as more cheers erupted from the stands.  All around them people were shouting and hollering, but for Ramona, all she could see was Stephen. He was smiling wide, popcorn was sticking here and there in his dark curls, and his laugh echoed in her ears.  She wanted to kiss him again, but knew it would be improper to do it here in front of all these people. Instead she reached up and plucked the popcorn out of Stephen’s dark curls. He smiled at her, even broader, as they turned again to cheer on their team.

At the end of the game, Stephen drove Ramona home. She was still giddy with excitement. The Red Sox had won 6 to 4. It had been one of the most amazing days of her life. Stephen pulled the car in fort of he brown stone home, and took her hand to help her out of the car.

“I had such a wonderful time Stephen. Thank you so very much.”

He smiled at her, his green eyes piercing her to her core. “I am glad you enjoyed it. I fear I may have created a fan out of you.”

“Oh yes!”

“Maybe soon we can go to another game.” He said, and Ramona noticed him blush a little.

“I would like that” She said, as he led her to her front door.

“Would you like to come in? I am sure father would like to see you.”

“No,” he said “I had better get home, I don’t want to leave mother alone.”

Ramona nodded “Well thank you again for a wonderful day.” She said, feeling herself beginning to blush. Stephen was biting his lip and he looked at her.

“Mona,” he said softly “Would you mind if I gave you a kiss?” His ears turned a vibrant shad of red as he said this. Ramona smiled.

“You don’t have to ask,” she said, rather boldly, taking herself by surprise.

He laughed and moved close to her again.

“I know, but I don’t want you to be uncomfortable.”

“Why would I be?” Goodness her boldness was so odd.

“Because I have not asked you to be my girl…” His ears were growing redder as he spoke.

“Well, Why don’t you?” Lord! Sarah was rubbing off on her.

He laughed again. She loved how full of laughter he was. “Alright Miss Ramsey, will you be my girl?”

She beamed up at him, “Yes Mr. Magathan, only if you will be my boy.”

Stephen laughed again “Of course I will be your boy.” He said, laughing a little.

“So…” he said.

“So you can kiss me Mr. Magathan.”

Laughing he did, right there on her front porch. That kiss was just as thrilling as cheering at a baseball game, and when Stephen said good bye Ramona’s head was spinning.

As she closed the front door, Ramona knew she would have so much to tell Sarah tomorrow.