Free Out of Left Field: Marlee's Story by Barbara L. Clanton Page B

softball bag to her other shoulder. Bobby looked good leaning against his Camaro, red letterman’s jacket unsnapped. His strawberry blond hair golden even in the light drizzle.
    “Nice game,” Bobby said when Marlee got closer.
    Uneasy, she answered, “Yeah, I finally got some strikeouts in the last inning.” This was small talk and Marlee knew it.
    “Marlee?” He looked down at his shoes with sudden interest.
    Marlee feared the worst. “What’s up?”
    “Marlee,” Bobby began again, “I think we’re in different places in our lives.” He paused.
    “Yeah?”
    “Look. I hate to break us up, but we’re going in different directions.”
    Marlee stared at him, too shaken to say anything.
    “Look,” Bobby continued. “You don’t have time for me like you used to. You have softball and now these girls’ nights.”
    Marlee heard the disdain in his voice when he said girls’ nights.
    Before she could respond, he blurted, “Look, Marlee, I’ve met someone. A girl from Southfork. I can’t see you anymore.” He turned to go. “I’m sorry.” He got into his car, started the engine, and screeched his exit from the Clarksonville High School parking lot.
    “Fine,” she murmured to herself. “Just fine.”
    Marlee didn’t know what to do. She watched him roar out of the parking lot and out of her life. Her softball bag suddenly weighed 300 pounds. She shrugged it off her shoulder. What just happened? She needed time, time to process. I can’t see you anymore, he had said. She walked back toward the school and got angrier and angrier. Well, fine. I can’t see you anymore, either. Marlee fumed. She couldn’t believe he had just broken up with her. And now she had to face her coach about Lord knew what. And her friends were waiting for her, too. How could she face any of them now?
    She reached the stairs, but lost her resolve. She turned and sat down squarely in the middle of the bottom step in the ever-increasing rain. The rain seemed a fitting accompaniment to the sudden shift of events. Tears welled up. She thought about all the time she and Bobby had spent together since they met in January. She remembered the fun they had hanging out with Jeri and Dave. And, of course, she thought sarcastically, all those wonderfully awkward moments at Lake Birch. Although she felt a thousand different feelings, she was surprised to find relief among them. She smiled when she realized she would never have to go to Lake Birch ever again. Still, even though she found comfort in that last thought, tears slid down her cheeks. She couldn’t stop them.
    At that moment, Jeri and Lisa bounded out of the school. They must have been watching. And even though the rain fell in earnest, they plopped down like bookends on either side of her. Jeri grabbed Marlee’s hand while Lisa put a protective arm around her. She thought she had it together, but this show of friendship and support opened the floodgates. She put her head into her hands. “He broke up with me.” She sobbed without looking up. She slapped her thigh forcefully. “I just got dumped. Dumped!”
    Jeri pulled her into an embrace and murmured, “It’s okay. It’ll be okay.”
    Lisa added, “Hang in there, Marlee.” She rubbed her back.
    Marlee struggled for composure. “Crap. Coach is waiting for me. Can you hang while I see what she wants?”
    Jeri nodded. “Sure. We’ll keep the Mustang warmed up for a speedy get-away to Stewart’s.”
    “Yeah,” Lisa agreed. “You need ice cream, eh?”
    Marlee laughed and swiped at her tears. She thanked her friends and attempted to get herself together for her meeting with Coach Spears.
    Marlee took several deep breaths as she walked toward her coach’s office. She stopped at the water fountain right outside the office and took a long drink. She scooped up some water, splashed her face, and tried to look as if she hadn’t been crying. She hadn’t yet gotten herself under control so she sat on the bottom row of the