Story #10: "The Knuckleball Artist" (Chapter 25)

A Final Sunset, Crazy Frank, Myrtle & Maury, Homer the Pharmacist, and Marty the Democrat.

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CHAPTER 25

Myrtle Tried to Tell Them

It was the final pitch of the season.

The bases were loaded, of course. The count was 3-0. Phineas had thrown nineteen wild pitches in a row, each more spectacular than the last. One more and the Misfits’ winning run would score.

The home plate ump, What Cheer’s small claims court judge, called time to let the town get itself squared away and give his knees a break.

The nurses at the Final Sunset old folks home trued up the wheelchairs on the left field foul line, lining them up straighter than a 4th of July parade.

On the right field line, the defeated middle-schoolers rowed up: Sleepy Drugs Pharmacy, the Buttercup Pancakes, Lutheran Liquor & Lottery. They gathered like team photos, top of the order in back. Left fielders and second basemen in the middle. The ones batting last up front on one knee, There was some shoving and “accidental kicking” just shy of intervention.

The grocery store cashiers took tur…