Bio:  Amanda Kelsch is a twenty-five year old private tutor.  Recently married in May, she and her husband, Nick, are currently living in Bowling Green, Ohio, where they will be leading a local campus ministry.  Amanda graduated from BGSU in 2001 with a degree in English, and taught first and second grade at a private Christian academy for two years.  She has now focused her attention on her writing career and is seeking publication of her first novel.

Sammy Steele

by Amanda Kelsch

I sat with my friend Sammy Steele that Saturday morning, our backs resting against the wall as we shared a bag of candy.  Actually it was Sammy who did most of the eating while I talked.  Sammy was a quiet boy, but he loved to listen.  He would nod his head enthusiastically and pipe his agreement with chocolate-smeared lips.

“We’re going to have so much fun today,” I told the smaller boy.  He was always teased about his height and his feeble fragile arms that could hardly even lift a baseball bat, much less make it make contact with the ball.  His physique didn’t bother me though; he was my best friend.

“First, we’ll have my mom bake us blueberry muffins, or maybe pancakes with nuts in them.  Whatever you want, she’ll make it for us.  She’ll probably sing along with the radio; I hope that doesn’t bother you.  She’s kinda silly sometimes, but she has a really pretty voice.  Sometimes I wake up and it’s like . . . well, like the birds are singing, but with words.  Maybe she’ll even dance with us.  I mean, if you want.  She does that sometimes.  Puts on some frilly apron over her clothes like it’s a fancy dress, and she’ll twirl around and grab my hand and make me dance with her.  I know, it sounds goofy and everything, but . . . well, you’ll really like my mom.  She’s a lot of fun.

“And then maybe I can get my dad to play some ball with us.  He’ll teach you how to hold the bat and how to swing, and before you go home tonight, you’ll be better than any of those stupid guys at school.  ‘Cause my dad knows a lot about baseball.  And we have a huge field where we can play.  It’s kinda like the field you have at your house, except it doesn’t have all the corn and stuff.

“I wish you didn’t have to work so hard all the time.  Maybe you can talk to your mom and dad and see if just one afternoon a week, maybe you could come over to my house and play.  They should understand.  I mean, you’re just a kid.  It isn’t fair, y’know?

The door of the closet swung open, crashing against the outer wall, and I squinted meekly at my mother.  “Kevin!  What are you doing in here?  Who are you talking to?” 

Light streamed in from around her shadowy form and illuminated the clothes strewn around me and the bag of chocolate resting on my lap. She snatched the bag away, pulled me upright, and smacked my chocolate-smeared face. 

Storming away she yelled behind her, “Get your coat and boots on, don’t just look at ‘em.  Your father is waiting in the field, and he’s not gonna be too happy with you.”

I put my boots on with trembling hands and lifted the coat form the box resting against the wall, and I slipped into the skin of Sammy Steele.

©Amanda Kelsch