The audible ‘crack’ rang in the air like trumpets from the gates of heaven as the polished softball sailed up, beyond the bug-laced lights of the baseball field and into the darkened night sky. The crowd erupted into wild cheers as St. Canard’s Lady Jays rounded the loaded bases of the diamond, a proud Gosalyn jogging in the caboose. The stands, filled with fans, jumped to their feet as Gosalyn pounded over third base, gazing triumphantly about. She gave most of the audience a mere passing glance, locking eyes with the only one of any importance. Her dad returned the look, his eyes radiating a sense of pride as he cheered her on.

“….and St. Canard’s number one, Gosalyn Mallard hits it o’er the fence for her third home run tonight! The Lady Jays win the game!” The speaker-one of Gosalyn’s teammate’s fathers-shouted into the loudspeaker. The rest of the redhead’s team members stood waiting at home base to tackle her as she came jogging up, all huddled together.

Once everyone was finished screaming excitedly (and had had their fills of each other’s dusty stench) the entire team dissipated from their field huddle to begin collecting their equipment as parents came up to congratulate them. Gosalyn grabbed her large, softball duffel bag and waited for her biggest fan to show up. He walked up to her as expected, his blue polo collared tee shirt and khakis hanging loosely from his thin frame. Once she saw her dad, a huge grin lit up her dust-layered face.

“Bad to the bone, Gos!” He grinned as she dropped her bag and nearly tackled him to the ground.
“Ooh, I’m so glad you could make it, pop! I thought you were still in Bosnia on that international espionage case.” She squeezed him until he was sure he felt his rib crack.

“Ach!...I came back early. You actually thought I’d miss my daughter’s last time to kick the Lady Jay’s rival’s tail feathers? Yeah, right.”

His daughter was elated and squealed, overjoyed at the evening’s unfoldings. As a senior in high school, it was the last time she’d ever get a chance to beat the East Compton Bearcats, and with her father there, it made the experience fully enjoyable.

“Awesome! Where’s Launchpad?” Gosalyn asked as her father slipped an arm around her shoulder-she stood just a hair shorter than he-and began to walk her to the high school building. They followed the mass of people also migrating there.

“He’s not feeling so hot. We stopped in a Mom & Pop’s Diner once we got back to the U.S. He was famished. Ate nine chili dogs-“Drake shuddered and Gosalyn grinned. “-needless to say, I’m not going home for a little while.”

Gosalyn stuffed her hands in the pockets of her dust-caked pants and smiled. “What did you eat?”

“Turkey on wheat with mustard.” He slipped a smile in on her. She gave a snort. “Knew it! You health nuts are all the same.”

Drake laughed as he flexed a now tone bicep. “Hey, this duck dropped fifty pounds of fat and added thirty of muscle. I’m too hot to trot, young lady.”

The redhead removed the faded blue visor from her damp forehead and tossed her duffel bag at him, which he caught in his free hand.

“Dad, I know you’re in shape. Heck, you’re smaller than me.”

“Aww, come on.” His voice was laced in that good-natured tone he always withheld when things went his way. Tossing her bag’s strap over his shoulder, he wrapped his arms gently around his daughter’s neck and hugged her. “Sweetie you’re just…what do you kids call it nowadays? Thick?”

He laughed and managed to evade a back-kick to the groin. His daughter grinned, yet was unable to respond before a foreign voice interrupted her.

“No, Mr. Mallard. In order to be thick, you’ve got to have a pair of these.” Drake looked up and acknowledged the voice as Gosalyn’s close friend, Victoria Ganes; a perky senior with velvety dark hair and cream-colored feathers. Her petite beak held a slight shimmer of lip gloss and she smelled of delicious perfume. She bounced up giddily as the father and daughter walked, and put her arms around Gosalyn’s sweaty neck.

It was obvious what she was referring to as she came up in her uniform that appeared as clean as a newborn baby’s conscience. She had played softball alongside Gosalyn since freshman year, and although she was unable to develop her skill beyond that of a bench-warmer, she had managed to develop her chest’s expansion into size D-cups splendidly.

“Hi, Victoria.” Drake smiled politely at the girl with the supermodel body and the million dollar smile.

“Hey, Mr. Mallard.”

Drake had always been curious as to how the two girls blossomed into such good friends. Both were as different as night and day. Victoria was the prissy socialite that despised activity-induced perspiration and spent most of her earnings on hair and nail salons. Gosalyn, on the other hand, carried the athletic build, loved sports, and just assume spit on a beautician as look at one. As a freshman, the two girls loathed one another and even fought once: Victoria walking away with a black eye and Gosalyn scowling at several rather deep scratch marks. Victoria had even taken up softball to spite her redheaded antagonist. Yet, of course, the winds of life do change and set you sailing in opposite directions. They were now inseparable.

Drake motioned for them to continue their walk through the dewing night grass and towards the high school.

“Now, Victoria, you know I hate it when anyone calls me ‘Mr. Mallard.’ It makes me feel old.”

Victoria giggled on impulse and Gosalyn rolled her eyes. “That’s because you are! Can we just call you grandpa?”

Drake looked at his daughter. “Hardy har har.”

“Well, I can do something to make you feel younger,” Victoria whispered indistinguishably. Gosalyn and Drake both looked at her wildly.

“What?”

“What?”

Victoria looked up, innocently shocked. “Huh? Oh, I just said…I’ve got a major hunger…pang..that is. Gos, you wanna come hang with me tonight? The boys’ also won their ballgame.” She abruptly changed the subject and re-worded her thoughts, smiling shrewdly. Drake gave her a curious look.

“I think Guy Morton’s having a little ahem get together at his place. Ya know, to celebrate the double victories.”

Gosalyn’s eyes lit up at the hint of a party. Looking over at her father, she closed her eyes and re-opened them, giving him the pouty beak treatment.

“Dad, can I pplleeaassee go? You know, after I handed in third quarter’s straight A report card and hit three homers?” Her face reminded him of a small puppy’s after accidentally stepping on his tail.

Drake could only sigh, tossing up a metaphorical white flag. “Yeah, you can go, BUT neither of you are driving. I’m calling a taxi service to send you both pick you up. You’re to be home by twelve.”

Gosalyn looked at him like he’d just exposed a severed head from behind his back. “Twelve? It’s six thirty now!”

“So?”

“Oh, Mr. Mallard, you know how long it takes me to get ready.” Victoria flipped her shoulder-length hair expertly, obviously having a lot of practice.

Drake sighed, throwing a silent temper-tantrum at how manipulating his daughter had become.

Gosalyn noticed the contention in her father’s tightened expression and whined, “Daaaad! Please let me stay out ‘til three!!”

“Three?! Oooh no! Twelve thirty.”

“ Twelve thirty?! No! Two thirty!”

“No! One thirty!”

“Two! Two! Oh please pop, two! Do you remember how proud you were of your baby girl whenever I brought home straight A’s?”

Her father growled under his breath. “Okay, fine. Two o’clock! But this doesn’t mean I advocate partying! And no drinking, Gos.”

Gosalyn and Victoria both broke into cheers, simply elated at their success. “Sure pop, whatever you say. Thank you soo much!” The redhead then proved her gratitude by giving him a loving hug.

“I trust you, Gos. You’ve become a very mature young lady.” He lessoned his grip to look at her. “Don’t do anything to break that, Kapish?”

His daughter smiled eloquently. “I won’t.”

“Good. Now go on. I’ll see you at home a little later.”

Gosalyn took her duffel bag from his shoulder, obviously excited. “What are you going to do…go to ‘work’?”

She hid her expression from Victoria’s view and looked at him knowingly. He shook his head and smiled.

“Not unless they…call me in. Morg’s at home. She isn’t expecting me for another couple of days, so I think I’ll surprise her.”

Gosalyn nodded obviously already planning the party out in her mind. “Okay, well catch you later.”

Drake smiled and turned to walk away, his hands laxly in the pockets of his khakis. “Okay, be good you two. Call me if you need anything. That goes for you, too, Victoria.”

“Thanks, pop….Hey, how about a sixer and a pack of cigs?” Gosalyn grinned and laughed. He gave her a neutral look and walked away.

Once he was out of earshot, Victoria licked her lips. “Damn, he could give me a little somethin’ somethin’..I am loving how hot he is, now!” Victoria wound a strand of her hair around her fingers as she watched him walk away, towards the darkened parking lots of the field.

Gosalyn shoved her, nearly knocking the girl off-balance. “Eww! That’s my dad you’re talking about, skank!”

So? Gos, I’m sorry, but your dad’s hot. Someday I’m going to catch him in a dark alley and have my way with him.”

Gosalyn gave her a look that resembled a reaction from the smell of decaying flesh. Victoria giggled as she grabbed her arm. “C’mon, let’s go party!”

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