Thrown a Curve (17 page)

Later that night, I headed upstairs to my room. Everyone in the house had gone to sleep long ago, but I stayed up watching late night television because I couldn’t sleep. When I got to my room, I noticed something on my pillow—an envelope that said “Taylor.” I sat down on the bed and opened it slowly. Inside was a letter written by my father. The faded date in the corner was from four years ago.

The letter read:

Dear Taylor,

If this letter looks faded, it’s only because I waited until I felt you were old enough to understand. If at any time over the years, you’ve felt I didn’t love you, I want you to know that was not my intention. I’ve been hurt very deeply, and it’s been hard to put on a happy face.

I want you to know that your mother did not leave
you
. She left
me
. She left me because I was cold and distant, and I didn’t give her the love she needed or deserved. She found someone else to love her, and then she left me to start a new life with him. I don’t want you to blame your mother for this. It was all my fault.

Your mother left because I wasn’t a good husband. And I probably haven’t been a great father, either. I feel
guilty for driving her away and for the fact that you’ve had to grow up without a mother. Just know that, although I may not always show it, I love you, and I’m proud of you, no matter what.

Love,

Dad

I read the letter’s last line over and over. I sat on my bed and held the paper against my chest and cried. But this time, I didn’t cry for me. I cried for my dad. All these years, I’d thought I’d been the only one who was suffering. But when I realized what Dad had been dealing with, I cried for what he’d gone through.

When morning came, I hurried down to the kitchen. Dad was sitting at the table having coffee. Danny was next to him, eating his cereal. I walked over and kissed the top of Dad’s head. Danny gave me a strange look. “I’ve got a game to get to,” I said, grabbing a banana. “See you guys later.”

“Good luck!” they both said in unison.

When I got to the field and started warming up with Louis, I didn’t feel nervous at all. I thought about all the people who cared about me: Justin, my two brothers, my dad, and even Sacamore. I felt like I could take on anything. People really did matter after all.

The whole team was in the outfield warming up, stretching and throwing balls around. I put down my glove and leaned down to tie my shoelaces, when a ball came whizzing by my head. I looked around to see Rick holding his arms up in innocence. Louis stood up from his catcher’s position, took off his mask, and stared at Rick. He walked over and nudged Tony, who’d seen the whole episode. They approached Rick, and about six of the other players fell in step behind them.

I stood frozen and watched. I looked toward the dugout and noticed that Coach Perez was walking toward the outfield to see what was going on, but then he stopped.

Just then, Louis yelled, “Hey, Bratton, what’s your problem, man?”

“You trying to hurt our best pitcher?” Tony added.

Rick said nothing.

All the guys started yelling at him, and Tony gave Rick a shove in the shoulder. “You need to check yourself,” Tony said.

Coach Perez picked up his pace. When he reached the mob, he pointed at Bratton and said, “I think you need to sit this one out, Bratton.”

Rick was shocked. “What?” he said.

“Yeah, I need team players out here, not immature selfish brats. Take your stuff and hit the showers. You’re done for the day,” he said, pointing his finger toward the school.

All the guys were still crowding around Rick. He knew he’d lost this time. Shaking his head, he jogged away. “Whatever. Good luck without me, losers,” he said and kicked at one of the
extra balls on the ground.

Louis jogged back toward me as if nothing had happened. He crouched down and slammed his hand in his glove a few times. “Okay, Dresden, let’s see some of those curveballs.”

With Rick gone, I felt as if a great weight had lifted from me. I relaxed and felt like I was eight years old again.

As I jogged out to the mound for the first inning, I heard a loud cheer come up from the home-side bleachers. I looked up to see Justin, Mr. Sacamore, Danny, and about ten girls from the softball team clapping and whistling.

And sitting next to all of them was my father, looking proud and smiling.

For the first time ever, I could hear him mouthing the words: “That’s my daughter.”

And so I’ve come almost to the end of my freshman year in high school—both the worst and best year of my life. I’ve learned a lot of things about people—and
from
people.

Justin taught me to see the good in everyone.

Trudy showed me how to laugh at myself, and at her.

Mr. Sacamore made me realize that all of us are just trying to figure out how to get through this life with a little bit of happiness.

Even Stacy and Rick taught me something. They showed me that all problems can’t be resolved quickly and easily—I still
have things to work out with the two of them, and I will try my best with them.

The person I may have learned the most from is my father. He made me aware that anyone can make a mistake, at any point in life, and that it’s never too late to make things right again, especially with family.

As for me, I taught myself a simple lesson—the game of life is hard, but that’s also what makes it great.

I
would to thank everyone at Bancroft Press, especially Bruce Bortz, for making the dream of getting published a reality; Ronda Lindsay, for sticking with me through many drafts; Carolyn Der, for her editing; Harrison Demchick, for writing the screenplay adaptation of the book; and Tammy Grimes, for creating a wonderful cover.

I want to thank my parents, Phyllis and Chuck Griffiths, for always being there through the good and the bad days.

Thank you to my husband, Jamie, for providing me the love every writer deserves.

I want to thank my three brothers, Michael, Bryan, and Dan Griffiths, for their support and for giving me no choice but to enjoy watching baseball.

I wish to thank my fellow teaching sisters, Amy Gilsenan and Rita Griffiths, for keeping the love of literature alive in their classrooms.

Thank you to Sheila, Jim, and Anne Marie Moesch for your many kind words over the years.

Thank you to all the students of South Orange Middle School, both past and present, for inspiring many of the characters in this book and for letting me share a part of your teen years.

Thank you, too, to all the teachers, librarians, and faculty members at South Orange Middle School for making teaching a
pleasure, especially Kathleen Hester, Daniel Savarese, Rebecca Donahue, Susan Wilson, Jane Rauen, and Kathleen Andersen.

And thank you to all the teachers at Vineland High School, especially Jeanne Doremus, Peter Starzan, and Kathleen Kopreski, for teaching me a few things.

S
ara Griffiths, a native of New Jersey, is an eighth grade teacher of language arts in South Orange, NJ. As a teacher at the South Orange Middle School, she’s been active in developing a language arts curriculum and producing the school’s musical.

A graduate of Rutgers College, where she majored in psychology, she obtained her teaching certificate in language arts from the College of Saint Elizabeth.

Sara is also a certified NARHA (North American Riding for the Handicapped) therapeutic horse-back riding instructor and has seen the physical and mental benefits of involving children in sports.

She is a member of the New Jersey Education Association, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and the National Council of Teachers of English.

Thrown a Curve
is her first published novel. She’s working on a sequel.

Sara currently lives in Whitehouse Station, NJ with her husband Jamie and son Ben.

“
Thrown a Curve
is a wonderfully engaging story that explores the truest of teen-age angst. The relationships in the protagonist’s life—both positive and negative—guide her through the landmines of the early teens. It’s a place most teenagers will readily recognize.”—Susan Wilson, Language Arts Supervisor And Consultant

“
Thrown a Curve
is a charmingly clever Young Adult novel about sports and relationships, about assumptions and perceptions, and about growing up in a sometimes confusing world. Thumbs-up for a refreshing novel where life itself may be a curve ball.” —Kathleen Kohaut, Media Specialist, Vineland High School North

“Wow! I loved this book. I couldn’t put it down. I think Thrown a Curve is for everyone. Any teacher, counselor, or parent of young adolescents could use it as a learning tool for examining self-esteem, taking responsibility, and strengthening damaged relationships. I’m going to enthusiastically hand it over to my pre-teen daughter. I can’t wait for the sequel.”—Bonnie O’Rourke, Guidance Counselor

“
Thrown a Curve
is the kind of book I’m happy to sell to a teen: it has a wonderful pace, sophisticated character development, and a likeable protagonist. Griffiths’ fluent and edgy dialogue gives the book’s uplifting message a modern tone that I have no doubt will appeal to teens as much as it does to me.”—Laura Huemer, owner of Goldfinch Books, an independent book store

“
Thrown a Curve
is an excellent story and a great read. As a high school student, I could really relate to Taylor’s struggle to find the inner strength she needed to believe in herself while coping with the constant and ever-changing demands of school, family, friends, and, well...life. This book is a
home
run—one I am definitely recommending to all my friends!”—Katie Robinson, Age 15

“ ‘It’s just so embarrassing. The wrong kid got the right gift.’ Overhearing her father’s words sends Taylor Dresden’s life into a free-fall. Sara Griffiths has drawn on her teacher’s insight and written a sensitive first novel that will resonate with teenagers everywhere. Readers will identify with Taylor as she struggles to reclaim her talent, her father, and her very self. They will understand Taylor and cheer her victories.” —Kathleen Anderson, Library/Media Specialist

“
Thrown a Curve
creates a pop-out world that shows the reader how the life of a teenager really is. I can’t wait for the sequel.”—Samantha Guillen, 8th grade student

“
Thrown a Curve
is the kind of book I can’t wait to add to my students’ independent reading list. Readers, young and old, can benefit from Taylor’s journey of self-discovery and self-empathy. Taylor employs the silent act of self-imposed indifference that so many young adults use as a security blanket to get through the difficult days of adolescence. Perhaps the best message in this book is that if you can believe in the thing you’re most passionate about, then everything else will fall into place—a theme we can relate to at any age.”—Amy Gilsenan, English Teacher, Grades 9 and 12, Keansburg High School, Keansburg, NJ