The Girls of Summer: 9 Final

 

The game continues - as does Hunter's life.

I am so, so, so happy that Hunter touched so many hearts. Thank you all for reading
and for so many comments and emails. I really enjoyed these characters and I'm so
happy that you did, too. Please stay well! See you all next time!

---

 
Author's Note: If you enjoyed my story, please consider leaving me a review?
I do enjoy reading them!

ps: The usage of the word Hunny is slang for "Hunter" not honey. ~Clara.
 
This version of The Girls of Summer: 9 Final has been updated with many corrections towards spelling and grammar.~Sephrena.
 
Image Credit: Image created through the use of ai at https://perchance.org/beautiful-people .~Sephrena.

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Chapter 9
 

When the other team didn't clear the field quickly enough, the umpire disqualified them and was going to end the tournament right then and there, but after talking to the two head coaches, he awarded the Group C Crushers a win and agreed to allow the competitions between the youngest teams and then the one between the oldest teams to proceed.

You would have expected The Crushers to have been thrilled by their fairly effortless win, but the girls were horribly disappointed to have not gotten a chance to show the skills they'd learned at camp.

The Group A 'Aces' took the field to warm up in their purple tops and white pants. Even from his location at third base, Hunter could sense the anger coming from the other team's dugout, all the way across the field. They were all trying to stare down one player or another and several were staring right at Hunter.

The game began and The Cougar's pitcher threw pretty well for a thirteen year old, but the Aces had been well trained and hitter after hitter got a piece of something and when the score was Aces 3 and Cougars 0, the coach of The Cougars pulled the pitcher and replaced her with a much bigger girl.

"TIME!" the umpire called and signaled for the coaches to meet her on the mound.

Hunter, who was the next person to be in the on-deck-box, was out of the dugout warming up and was close enough to overhear what was being said.

"How old is this girl?" the Umpire asked.

"What difference does that make?" the head coach of the other camp asked. "They're all wearing the same uniform, aren't they? My girls are all one big team."

"How old are you?" the Ump demanded of the pitcher.

"I'm sixteen," the girl pitching admitted.

"Are you ok with this?" the umpire asked Coach Skylar.

"Am I ok with cheating? No," Skylar made clear, which prompted a groan from the other coach, "but my girls have worked their asses off to play a good game here today. If this girl promises to throw a good, safe game, then we're ok with her pitching. But if she bullies my girls like that last girl did, I won't be just calling the league supervisors to complain, I'll be calling the cops to have you arrested for endangering my players AND I'll be calling the local news outlets to let them know what kind of an operation you're running over there."

The other coach just rolled her eyes and shook her head.

The umpire spoke directly to the pitcher. "Since there's no sense in talking to your coach, I'm going to talk to you. If you're going to pitch to twelve and thirteen year olds, then you do so knowing that you're too strong to throw anything too fast or too close to them. Understood? One pitch near their heads or at their feet and you are gone and the rest of the games are done. This is all resting on you and how you behave. Do you understand me?"

The pitcher nodded.

"I need you to say it out loud," the Ump insisted.

"Yeah," the pitcher said.

The umpire let put a frustrated grunt. "I'm going to ask you one more time and I expect a polite, well spoken response or we are done for the day. Now... If you behave the way some of your teammates have behaved today, I will end this entire event. Do. You. Understand. What. I. Am. Saying?"

"Yes, ma'am," the pitcher said. "I understand what you are saying."

"Excellent. Then let's play ball."

As it turned out, the pitcher was actually quite good. She had a lot of tools in her tool box. She struck out the first batter she faced. The next batter got a piece of a pitch, but it popped up to the short stop and no one advanced.

So, as Hunter took the batter's box, there were two outs and the bases were loaded. Not a situation Hunter wanted to be in with so many people watching.

"Move in!" the couch from the other camp shouted. "Little batter! Everyone move in! Waaaaay in!"

All the outfield moved to just behind the infield and the infielders moved forward onto the grass.

"Time!" Coach Marie called and ran out to talk to Hunter.

"How are doing Short Stuff?" she asked with a knowing smirk.

Hunter shrugged. "Ok, I guess."

She winked at him. "That other coach... she's just a bully. She's calling in her girls to make you feel bad. Are you going to let her get to you?"

"No, coach."

"Atta girl," Coach Marie smiled. "Now... you just need to get on base, right? And remember what that clinician said about you having an advantage because your strike zone is so small, right? So - if she walks you, great. A runner comes home. If you have a chance to take a good swing, take it, but make sure it gets the ball into the outfield behind those girls. Got me?"

Hunter nodded.

"Alright, Short Stuff," she smiled. "You know what to do. Just do your job and we'll do fine."

"Ok, Coach," Hunter smiled.

Coach Marie patted her on the back. "That's my Short Stuff. Now - let's kick their asses."

Hunter smiled and stepped back into the batter's box.

The pitcher wound up and let go of a sinker that almost got past the catcher.

"Ball one," the umpire called.

The pitcher shook off a few signs from the catcher, then threw a fast ball that rocketed past Hunter and straight into the catcher's mitt.

"Strike one!"

Hunter got a piece of the third pitch, but it fouled off to the right.

"Strike two!"

The next pitch went wide.

"Ball two!"

To Hunter, felt like she had been in the batter's box for a year at this point.

Another pitch that she got a piece of, but another foul ball.

The umpire waved it foul, but said nothing.
 

~^~
 

Bob let out an anxious breath. "Lord, I might have a heart attack pretty soon." He said, actually panting a bit.

"She's doing great, though," Mary Ellen said, equally stressed by the game.

"It's a big moment for her," Veronica pointed out. "She's either going to be very happy or very upset by whatever happens now."

Joyce never looked away from Hunter in the batter's box.

"Are you ok, mom?" Mary Ellen asked.

"Yeah," she said, still focused on the game. "I may throw up, but I'm ok."

"Alright, baby!" Bob shouted towards the field. "You're doing great! Come on, little girl! Show everyone what you're made of!"

Mary Ellen's head spun towards her stepfather, shocked at what he'd just said. Yelling out 'little girl' like that without a second thought! She noticed that Veronica was looking at him too. The two of them made eye contact and they smiled at each other.

Then something very unusual caught Mary Ellen's ear. The sound of a young man yelling, "Come on, Hunter! You've got this!" She turned and saw a fairly good looking, clean cut kid, about Hunter's age, across the aisle and back three rows. He was with a group that appeared to be his mother and father and a couple of brothers, all dressed in Red Sox jerseys. Mary Ellen thought that the boy may have been at the bat mitzvah party, but with a ball cap on, it was hard to be sure.
 

~^~
 

Another pitch went wide.

"Ball three!"

Two outs, a 3/2 count and bases loaded. A position that every athlete dreams of, but it was scaring the bejesus out of Hunter at that moment.

Another pitch, just on the outside of the plate and another foul ball.

The sweat was rolling down the sides of Hunter's face.

Another foul tip that rolled away.

"Relax and just do your job, Short Stuff," Coach Marie shouted.

"Haha," the catcher laughed, "Short Stuff. That's pretty funny."

Hunter got ready for the pitch.

"Because you're so short," the catcher said. "What are you, like, nine?"

Hunter buckled down and prepped for the pitch. This time, when the pitch came in, Hunter's swing was firm and level, but maybe just a fraction of a second earlier than he'd intended. So, instead of sending the ball towards second base and center field, it shot off into left field - high enough to clear the infield and the outfielders who were crowding the infield. The left fielder turned and ran towards the ball, which was far out in the field and rolling towards the left field wall.

Hunter took off for first base as the runner on third base headed home. When she rounded first, the left fielder hadn't reached the ball, yet, so off towards second base, Hunter headed.

The left fielder sent the ball home, but by the time the catcher got it, two runs had scored and another member of The Aces was on third base and Hunter was on second.
 

~^~
 

"YES!!!" Bob screamed. "That's my little girl!!!" he shouted. "You're amazing!"

Joyce was screaming, too - nothing very coherent, just screaming - but in a second, she and Bob were hugging and bouncing up and down with excitement.

Three rows back and across the aisle, that boy was jumping up and down with the same excitement! "Yeah!" the boy shouted. "That's the way to do it, Hunter!"

Mary Ellen watched each display with fascination. The world had changed so quickly!
 

~^~
 

Two batters later and Hunter crossed home base when Sarah hit a double into deep center field. He'd never been so relieved to step on home plate and jog back to his dugout.

"Hey, Short Stuff," Coach Marie said as she passed. "Nice work. You did you're job."

"Thanks, Coach," Hunter smiled.
 

~^~
 

"Unbelievable!" Bob shouted as Hunter crossed home plate. "This game is going to kill me! I swear to God, I'm not going to get through this game at this rate."

"You never acted like this when Hunny played baseball," Mary Ellen pointed out.

"Baseball was nothing like this!" Bob pointed out. "You're amazing, baby!" he yelled at the top of his lungs towards the field.
 

~^~
 

The rest of the game proved to be less dramatic, but still exciting. The final score was Aces 9 and Cougars 1. The two teams lined up in the traditional manner to congratulate each other, but this was done mostly for the benefit of the umpire. Each player said "Good game," to each player on the other team, but it was obvious that the girls in the Cougars uniforms didn't mean it.

Group A cleared the dugout bench to make room for Group D and headed for their seats in the stands, but Coach Skylar stopped Hunter on the way by. "Stay here," she said, so Hunter stayed with the coach.

As the Group D girls bounded down from the stands, Addy grabbed hold of Hunter's hand and said, "Follow me, Short Stuff."

She led Hunter through the dugout and into the clubhouse room beyond where she produced a black Jersey with the word 'Dragons' emblazoned across the chest, but the shirt was small enough to fit Hunter.

"What's this for?" Hunter said, a big smile on his face.

"You're our good luck charm, Short Stuff." She winked, playfully. "We want you on the bench with us."

Moments later, Addy and Hunter emerged from the restroom and stepped back into the dugout to a round of applause from the rest of The Dragons.

Coach Skylar smiled and patted Hunter's head. "The girls asked us to get you a Group D shirt. Are you ok, sitting with them for the game?"

"Are you kidding!? This is awesome!" Hunter bubbled.

Soon, the game started and, as with the previous matchups, the girls from Hunter's camp came out strong, scoring three runs in their first at bat.

The Dragons took the field and The Cougars were up at bat. Izzy took the mound and threw to the first batter, striking her out. The next batter hit a single and ran to first base, arriving safe at first.

The third batter arrived in the batter's box with an attitude. "You throw me that weak ass crap and I'll hit it right back at you," she boasted and pointed at Addy as if she was Babe Ruth pointing to where she'd planned to hit a home run.

Izzy smirked and wound up, firing in a curve ball that batters rarely hit, but this time... the batter did. She hit a line drive straight back at Izzy striking her square in the lower rib cage and knocking her off of her feet.

"STAY HERE!" Coach Skylar shouted to the team as she and all the other coaches ran to the mound.
 

~^~
 

"Oh, no," Joyce gasped as she watched the pitcher collapse. Then she saw a man running down the stadium stairs as quickly as he could, headed for the field. He must be the pitcher's father.

"Is she ok?" Mary Ellen asked no one in particular.

"God, I hope so," Bob said.

"I think she may be done for today, though," Veronica said.
 

~^~
 

"Are you ok, Izzy?" Coach Skylar asked.

"Hard... to... breathe..." Izzy said, holding onto her abdomen.

The camp nurse and a medic that worked at the park showed up simultaneously. Each went to work, cooperating with each other. They spoke quickly and asked Izzy lots of questions before they looked up at Coach Skylar and said, "I'm pretty sure she's broken a rib... maybe more than one. We need an ambulance to take her to the hospital."

"Isabell! Isabell! Izzy!" The man from the stands pushed past the coaches. "Honey... are you ok?"

Izzy was able to catch her breath by that time. "I'm ok, daddy," she gasped. "It just hurts... kinda a lot."

"She'll be ok," the camp nurse assured Izzy's father. "I'm pretty sure she's got at least one broken rib, but I don't think there was any other damage. If a rib is broken, then she'll have to wear a compression belt for a few weeks and she'll have a softball sized black and blue bruise for a few weeks as well, but she should be fine. I think an X-ray is in order just to be certain that she's ok."

"Ok," her father nodded. "She's broken a rib before, when she fell off of a horse. I'll take her to the hospital."

"Well, I'm afraid that we need her to go by ambulance," the park medic explained. "Insurance regulations... you understand."

He nodded. "Can I go with her?"

"Well, yes, but is there someone else here who can drive your car to the hospital? You'll need it later."

"Shoot... no. Umm... listen, Ummm... Izzy's cousin Becca is in Group D, too. Can she travel with Izzy in the ambulance?"

Becca was a utility infielder for Group D and usually sat on the bench waiting to be used.

"Yes, of course," Coach Skylar nodded and sent another coach to tell Becca to get ready to leave.

Very soon, the nurse and medic had Izzy standing and walking off the field to the cheers of campers and fans alike.

Each of her team mates, and Hunter, offered her a fist bump or gentle hug on the way past.

"Alright, girls," the Group D coach said, getting their attention. "Izzy's going to be fine. Betsy, you're pitching. Let's focus and finish this game the way we intended."

"Ummm, coach," Ruthie said, "Betsy's parents took her home back when it looked like a fight might break out."

"You're kidding?" the coach said. When Ruthie shrugged, the coach turned to Coach Skylar. "What do we do?"

"We use another pitcher. Let me talk to the ump."

It was obvious from her body language that the other team's coach wasn't happy about using a pitcher from another of the camp's team, but since they had already done the same thing, the ump allowed it.

"She said she'd allow it this one time," Coach Skylar explained to the Group D coach. "From here on out, though, the only players allowed to replace the players on the field are those in the correct uniform and already on the bench. No exceptions for either side. I think the ump is just fed up and ready to call it a day."

"Understandable," The Group D coach nodded. "So... who do I use as my pitcher?"

Coach Skylar thought for a moment, then yelled up into the stands, "Wanda! Come on down."

The rest of the campers in the stands whooped and cheered as Wanda climbed back down to the field.

"Think you're up to another few innings?" Coach Skylar asked.

"You bet I am, Coach!" Wanda said, thrilled to be in a Group D game. She looked at Hunter who offered a big thumbs up.

"Alright..." Coach Skylar smiled. "Let's get back to work."

The Dragons retook the field with a new pitcher who was wearing a purple jersey with the word 'Aces' written on her chest.

"Oh lord," Veronica said, staring at the field in amazement. "Move over, Bob. I think I'm going to have a heart attack, too."
 

~^~
 

The batter who'd sent the line drive into Izzy's ribs had been held at second base by the umpire. She was angry that she'd not been allowed to round the bases, but the umpire had been firm in his decision that he'd stopped play when the pitcher had been hurt, so the runner had to stay on second base.

Wanda took a deep breath and threw her first pitch. The batter swung and missed and Wanda knew that she could handle this. So what if the girls were older than her. She could do this.

She threw like a champ. She struck out the first batter and the second hit a pop fly that was easily caught by Lucy at short stop. The next batter managed to hit a slow ground ball towards first base. The first base player ran in and grabbed the ball and was able to tag out the runner on her way to first. Then, the runner at second base tagged up and headed for third. The first base player turned and threw the ball to third, where it was caught in plenty of time to make the play, but the base runner ran full force into the third base player, knocking her to the ground with a hard thud.

"Out!" the official at third base called, causing the base runner to shout and begin arguing, which brought the other camp's coaches running out to join in the argument.

Hunter got up and ran to the edge of the dugout.

"Hold up, Short Stuff!" Coach Skylar warned. "Let them play out their drama their way. We'll stay put."

"But coach!" Hunter pointed to the third base player. "She's not getting up!"

Coach Skylar stood, looked at her player sprawled out on the grass and muttered a curse as she ran full throttle across the field. "Everyone into the dugout!" she ordered in order to ensure that no fights broke out. All the Group D girls ran to their dugout, while Coach Skylar knelt beside the girl.

"Come on Brenda, come on!" she muttered as she tapped the girl's face.

Brenda's eyes opened and she looked a little dazed. "Is she out?" she asked.

"She is," Coach Skylar laughed. "How do you feel?"

"Ok, I guess," the girl said and she sat up. "A little dizzy, but I'm ok." She went to stand, but she realized that her right knee really hurt. "I must have twisted it, Coach. I'm sorry."

"Well, I think you're done for today." Coach Skylar helped the girl stand and the assistant coach led her back to the dugout.

The coach joined the conversation with the field official and the home plate umpire and discussed the situation. Eventually, Coach Skylar shook her head and she headed back to the dugout, but stopped and talked to the Group D coach on the way.

Finally, they reached the dugout and ordered everyone into a circle so she could talk to them.

"Alright, girls, here's where we stand. The umpire says that the obvious attack on one of our players was fair play. So, she is not going to call the game off."

"Good," most of the girls mumbled.

"Yeah, well, we're in a spot, then. When Izzy left, our utility infielder, Becca, left with her. Now, with Brenda out for the game and Becca, Izzy and Betsy all gone home or to the hospital, we are down to just eight players."

"Can't we grab someone from Group C?" Addy asked.

Coach Skylar shook her head. "The ump says that the only replacement we can make is to use a player that has been in uniform and on the bench for the entire game." Coach Skylar's eyes wandered to Hunter. It didn't take but a few seconds for every girl in the dugout to be looking at Hunter as well.

"Me?" Hunter said, surprised. "You want ME to play with Group D? In an actual game!?"

"It's that or forfeit," Coach Skylar said.

"Come on, Short Stuff," Ruthie said. "You know you wanna do it!"

"Hell, ya, I wanna do it!" Hunter said, jumping up, excited.

"Alright," Coach Skylar smiled at her littlest camper. "Now, the rest of you, listen to me. As far as you are concerned, Hunter is made of glass. Protect her. Make sure that those bullies don't get a shot at this little girl. Understood!?"

"Yes, Coach!" all the girls shouted.

"Ok. Let's get to work!"

The girls all ran back onto the field, with Hunter taking the third base position. That caused a lot of laughter to rise up from the Cougars' dugout. Even some rude remarks and pointing.

The umpire pulled off her mask and walked towards Hunter, motioning Coach Skylar out onto the field.
 

~^~
 

"Oh, my God," Joyce said. "Are they putting Hunter into a game with the older girls?"

"Looks that way," Mary Ellen said.

"Why would they do that?" Joyce sounded somewhat panicked.

"I think they're running out of players," Bob said.

"Why don't they just call the game off?" Joyce asked, looking around for support. "I mean, those other girls have been have been hurting our girls all day."

"Hey," a parent in front of them turned and looked angry, "it's a tough game! If your little princesses can't stand the heat, then they need to get the fuck out of the kitchen."

"Who do you think you're talking to?" Joyce said with an angry look.

"Ok. Everyone calm down," Bob said. "It's just a game for the girls."

"Yeah, well the next time you blame my kid for your kid not being able to play like a grownup..." the woman in front of Joyce wouldn't back down.

Bob held up his hands. "Alright. Let's just watch the game."

The woman scowled at them and turned around.

"Hey look!" The sound of a young man caught Mary Ellen's attention. Probably because it came from the same area from which the younger boy's voice had come before. "Brian's girlfriend is on the field with Ruthie's team!"

Mary Ellen turned and looked at the group. The oldest boy, who was probably her age, had made the remark. The second oldest boy gave the youngest a rough pat on his head, pushing the youngest boy's Red Sox cap down onto his eyes. "Brian's girlfriend is a star!" the middle boy said.

"She is," the one named Brian said with a huge smile. "You guys are just jealous."

'Brian's girlfriend?' Was that a real possibility? No. Hunter had either been at camp or with her or one of their parents every minute of every day for the last month. Except for at that dance... hmmm. How many dances had they had together? This was interesting.
 

~^~
 

"She has been in a team uniform and sitting on our bench for the entire game," Coach Skylar insisted to the umpire. "You have let the girls on that team run roughshod all over this field all day while my girls have behaved themselves and never once engaged in a conflict with them. And now, two of my girls have been hurt. You can't just hand them a win for being bullies."

The umpire, frankly, agreed with the coach, but that little girl on third base was so much smaller than the rest of the girls on the field. To be honest, she had thought the same thing when the little girl had been playing with the girls her own age. Now, the comparison in size between the third base player and the rest of the girls was almost comical. She had performed well with her team though...

"Alright... I'll allow her to play, BUT if she gets hurt, that's all on you. Agreed?"

"Absolutely!" Coach Skylar agreed. Then she said a silent prayer that nothing happened to the little one they called Short Stuff.

"Play ball!" the umpire called as she took her place behind home plate.

Wanda sent a tough-to-hit sinking pitch across the plate, but the batter got some metal onto it and sent what would have been a knee high line drive into the area between the short stop and third base. Lucy hurried to her right with no chance of getting her glove in front of the ball, but she pulled up to a quick stop when she heard the thwack of the ball slamming into Hunter's glove.

"Out!" called the umpire and that retired the other side.

"Look at you!" Lucy smiled and laughed. "Holy sh... sorry... Holy crap, Short Stuff! Look what you did!" She picked up Hunter and carried her back to the dugout, causing Hunter to laugh hysterically.

All the girls high-fived and fist bumped Hunter and Wanda.

They were able to keep The Cougars scoreless for all six innings, but The Dragons only managed to score one more run, so the game ended with a score of Dragons 4 and Cougars 0. Hunter managed to get on base with an unintentional walk in the fifth inning, but never crossed home plate in that game.

And he couldn't have cared less.

Hunter was just thrilled to have had the chance to play with all the powerful, beautiful girls in Group D.

As the game ended, the girls all gathered on the field outside of the dugout to say their goodbyes. Hunter and Wanda and Sarah had a tearful three-way hug that lasted for two solid minutes. They all promised to keep up their online meetings during the school year and they'd all come back to camp the next year.

After getting hugs from dozens of girls, Hunter turned to grab her backpack, but between her and the bag was the smiling face of Brian from the bar mitzvah party.

"Brian!?" Hunter was surprised. "Why are you here?"

"To watch you guys play!" the boy said. "We had tickets before because of Sarah and Ruthie, but... WOW, HUNTER! YOU'RE AMAZING!"

Hunter laughed, dimples appearing on those smooth cheeks. "No. I'm not even that good compared to most of the girls."

"Yeah, sure," Brian smiled, and then, almost as if he couldn't stand to wait a moment longer, he leaned forward and hugged Hunter.
"Congratulations! What a great game! Well, all the games were great! What a great day!"

"Thanks," Hunter laughed.

He released Hunter as they heard his mother calling him. He smiled and shook his head. "I gotta go. Ummm... I know you don't have a phone, but... can I... ummm... email you or... something?"

Hunter smiled a big, very pretty smile. She bit her bottom lip and her eyes sparkled, playfully. "I guess... sure."

Brian nodded. "Cool. Cool."

"Brian! Let's go!" his dad called.

"Oops! Gotta run. Bye!"

"Bye," Hunter answered and watched Brian disappear into the stands.

"Well, well, well," Mary Ellen said, putting her arm around Hunter's shoulders. "Aren't you a quick worker?"

Hunter blushed, but the smile never diminished. "Hi! Ummm... Mom and dad didn't see that, did they?"

Mary Ellen laughed. "No. I don't think so. They're talking to your coaches. He's cute, though."

Hunter bit her lip, again. "I guess."

"You guess!?" Mary Ellen laughed as she leaned down and tickled her little sister.

"Ok! Stop!" Hunter laughed. "Yeah... he's cute. Ok? He's very cute."

"That's better." Mary Ellen laughed some more.

"There's our major leaguer!" Bob said, rushing over and picking Hunter up off of her feet and hugging her hard. "Oh, my God! You scared the liver and lights out of me, Hunter! I swear, I must have had four heart attacks in the last three and a half hours! Just ask your mother."

"It's true," Joyce said, patting Hunter's shoulder while Bob still held her. "Hunny... you were so great on that field today."

"Thanks, mom. I learned a lot at camp."

"It showed," Bob said. "We just had a long talk with Skylar. She says that you are definitely the most improved camper this year and she can't wait for you to come back next year."

"I can't wait until next year, either," Hunter smiled. "This was the best camp I've ever been to."

Joyce moved a bit so she could look into Hunter's eyes. "So... you really want to come back next year? Even if that means being a girl... full time?"

Hunter nodded. "Mom... I already told dad... I don't think I'm really a boy. I think I'm really a girl and... that's how I want to live."

Joyce kissed his cheek. "I think that's a good choice, Hunny. I really do."

"Who's up for ice cream!?" Bob said.

"I am!" Hunter shouted and squirmed out of Bob's arms and back onto the field.

"Alright, then... where are we going?"

"Jensen's Farm!" Hunter said, as if there was no other place else to get an ice cream cone. "Can Wanda and her mom come, too?"

"We can invite them," Bob said, taking Hunter's hand. They headed up the stairs into the stands.

"So?" Mary Ellen said to her mother. "I have a little sister forever, then?"

"Looks that way," Joyce smiled. "That seems to be the healthiest way to go. Of course, there will be some changes. I don't know if going to the local public middle school is a good idea. We'll have to find someplace comparable with Hunter's new life. She's going to need your help, too, but... you've already been a lot of help."

Mary Ellen shrugged. "It's fun, mom. I love having a little sister. She could use a little guidance when it comes to boys, too."

"Boys!?" Joyce said surprised. "You don't think that Hunter's just going to suddenly like boys, do you?"

Mary Ellen smiled knowingly. "I think Hunter's going to enjoy her new life, mom."
 

~^~
 

It was the first day of softball camp. The morning had been shockingly strenuous for the Group A girl and she was hoping to find a place to sit on her own and take a break while she ate lunch. She stepped into the regional high school's cafeteria and looked for a secluded place to catch her breath and eat. All these girls, even a lot of the girls in Group A, seemed so much bigger and more experienced than her. It wasn't what she expected and it kind of scared her a little.

'Hi," an older girl said, appearing out of nowhere. She wasn't all that tall, may just an inch or two taller than the Group A girl's five foot height, but she looked a lot more mature. She was very pretty, with long, rusty red hair and breasts that were larger than a lot of the other girls. Not too big, but bigger than most. "Come on and eat with me," the older girl said, then guided the younger girl to a table and helped her get organized.

"So, what's your name?" the older girl asked.

"Kayla," the younger replied.

"Hi, Kayla," the older girl smiled very warmly. "My name is Hunter. How is your first day going?"

"Ok," Kayla shrugged. "It's a lot harder than I thought it'd be."

Hunter smiled. "I know, but believe me... it's all worth it."

"Hey, Short Stuff!" another beautiful, older girl said. At first, Kayla thought this new girl was teasing her, until the girl named Hunter responded.

"Hey, Sarah! Whose your friend?"

"This is Melody," Sarah smiled. "Mel, this is my friend, Short Stuff. She's one of our best players. This is her first year in Group D, just like me, but it's her seventh year at camp. Also, the same as me. She's one of my best friends."

"Hi," Melody smiled, nervously.

"Hi, Melody," Hunter smiled. "This is my friend, Kayla. Kayla, this is Melody."

The girls nodded. They'd seen each other that morning on the field, but hadn't talked to each other.

"Oh, and here's the third Musketeer," Sarah laughed. "Wanda! Over here!"

Wanda looked amazing in a form fitting, Lycra sports top and yoga pants.

"Hey, guys! This is my new friend Bri," Wanda smiled. "Bri, these are my best friends in the world, Sarah and Hunter - but you can call Hunter 'Short Stuff.' We all do."

"Hey, Bri," Hunter smiled and took the girl's tray, putting it on the table for her so that she could pull a chair out. "These are our friends Kayla and Melody. So, let's talk about what camp is going to be like."

When lunch ended, the three Group A girls went away happier than they'd been at the start of lunch. The three Group D girls smiled as they watched them leave.

"Man, I love being one of the 'big girls!'" Hunter said.

"You'll never be a 'big girl,'" Wanda laughed as she put her arm around her much smaller friend's shoulders.

"Seriously!?" Hunter said, wide-eyed with mock insult. "Short jokes!? Still!?"

"It never gets old," Wanda laughed.

"I think they'll enjoy camp. Don't you?" Sarah said. "It's so overwhelming on the first day, but it's better with friends."

"Maybe they'll be best friends for the rest of their lives... just like us," Hunter smiled.

"Yeah... until boys get in the way," Wanda teased.

"Hey... are you talking about Brian!?" Hunter asked. "Because Brian's been around almost since I met you guys."

"Well," Wanda laughed, "Brian's with you, Benji is with Sarah and I've got Chris. Don't get me wrong, I love the boys, but... I miss being with you guys all the time. This is my last year at camp. How am I going to get along without you two when I go to college in the fall?"

"We'll just have to get together on Zoom every night like we used to," Hunter shrugged.

"Geez... think about it..." Sarah shook her head. "Just a few years ago we all met up in camp, just like those three. Think about how much we've been through since then! So many good parties!"

Wanda nodded. "Ruthie's wedding."

"Mae's graduation," Hunter smiled.

"Our combined Sweet Sixteen party," Sarah said to Hunter.

'My high school graduation party just a few week ago," Wanda said.

"Hunter's SRS surgery last August," Sarah said, with a giggle.

"Hey!" Hunter said, looking around to be sure no one had heard. Then she smiled and giggled. "That was no party for me!"

Sarah laughed. "I still can't believe you didn't tell me about your wiener for almost a year."

"It was just a birth defect," Hunter smiled. "Let's never talk about it again."

"What the hell is going on in here!?" Coach Skylar said, her hands on her hips. "I have four teams on the fields and here are my three most experienced players standing around chit-chatting."

"Sorry, coach," all three said in unison as they gathered the table rubbish and hurried to throw it away.

As they passed the coach, headed for the door, Coach Skylar said, "Short Stuff. Stay back."

Hunter stopped and turned around to face the head coach.

"How are we doing, Short Stuff?" Coach Skylar asked.

Hunter smiled, touched by the coach's concern. "I'm good, Coach. Really good."

"All healed?"

"All healed."

"Big change?"

Hunter shrugged. "Not really."

The Coach smiled. "Are you happier now?"

Hunter took a deep breath and thought for a moment. "I'm... complete, now, Coach. I'm who I'm supposed to be."

"Come here," the stern coach said, and when Hunter came close, she hugged her tightly. "You know," she said, "no other camper has ever worried me more or made me more proud to have known her than you, Hunter. You were the bravest little boy I'd ever met and you are the most amazing young woman I have ever known. I expect you to be a leader for these girls, now."

"I'll do my best, Coach," Hunter smiled.

"Ok," the coach smiled, feeling happy that she'd said what she'd wanted to say, but also a bit awkward about having just showed so much emotion. "Go join the other musketeers and help whip this year's Group D into a team for me."

"Yes, Coach," she smiled and started to go, but she stopped at the door. "Coach?"

"Yes, Short Stuff?"

"Thanks... I mean... thanks for everything. I mean... My whole life would be different if it weren't for you."

The Coach smiled. "I'm sure that's not true."

"No... it is. Everything... all my friends... my school... having the courage to be who I truly am... that's all because of you. Without you and this camp... I'd still be... well... who knows who or what I'd be? Thank- you coach. I just want you to know how much I love this camp and... you. Thank you."

Coach Skylar stood with watery eyes and looked at her star third base player. "I love you, too, Hunter. You're a hell of girl."

 
THE END
 

For now