May 1965

It was uncharacteristically quiet around the Metcalf home, Steven went with Hank to Chicago for the weekend to see some friends he had made while living there.  Susie was at a slumber party for Sallie Sanderson's 11th birthday.  Jeff walked up the stairs, he could hear Tommy confiding to his momma.  "Why don't you just ask him yourself, Pumpkin-face", Ginger lovingly encouraged her son.  "Oh Momma, Daddy will think I am silly," Tommy smiled at his mom.  Ginger bent over to pick up a ball glove & bat off the floor, setting them on top the chest of drawers.  She opened up the top drawer to place a stack of clean undershirts inside when she saw the pristine Jeff Metcalf baseball card inside.  Ginger took it out of the drawer, it was Jeff's rookie card, she knew it wasn't their copy, because theirs was torn in half & taped together.  "Tommy, sweetie, where did you get this."  She looked at Tommy's face, gosh he looks exactly like Jeff did when they first met at the curb in front of his house 33 years ago. "Charlie gave that to me, Momma, he has like 10 of them in this big trunk with all kinds of books with newspaper clippings about daddy playing for the Indians."  Ginger couldn't help giggle at the thought of Charlie Hailey secretly saving souvenirs of Jeff's career.  "Hey now, what's so funny?" Jeff walked in to tell Tommy goodnight.  "Nothing, sweetie, I am going to take a bath. Jeff, Tommy needs to talk to you about tomorrow's game."  Ginger kissed her son goodnight & left the room.  "What's eating ya, Slugger?"  "Daddy?"  "Yes, Tommy."  "Did you ever get scared before a game?"  Jeff sat down on the edge of Tommy's bed, he looked around the room, Tommy ate, slept & breathed baseball, just like Jeff always did.  "Good lord, did I ever.  I was always afraid I wouldn't hit the ball or I would fall on my face.  But Tommy, you just have to try your best."  "What if I don't hit the ball, tomorrow, Daddy?  Will I still be your Lil' Slugger?" "Yes, son, you will ALWAYS be my Lil' Slugger & I will be proud of you, if you never hit the ball, as long as you try your best.  You know, before I went to spring training the first time, I was scared to death."  "But, Daddy, you are the best baseball player in the whole world."  Jeff looked at his son & knew he meant it with his whole heart.  He didn't have the heart to tell him that he was hardly the best.  Jeff tousled Tommy's hair and stood up, "You will do just fine tomorrow, Slugger, I am the coach & I will be there to root you on."  "Thanks, Daddy"  Jeff left the room & walked down the hall to him & Ginger's bedroom.  "Oh, Jeff, he has been stressing about this all day long.  Bless his little heart."  Jeff walked over to the dresser & saw the baseball card Ginger got from Tommy's room.  "Ginger, where did this come from?"  Ginger started laughing again "You won't believe this, Charlie gave it to Tommy.  I need to put that back in his room."  "Charlie?  Charlie Hailey?  He has my card?" Jeff laughed, "Good Lord, I have heard it all now!"