I love a train, I always have done ever since I was a child. My father worked on the rails as did his father, it was even said my great grandfather also worked on the rail but building them. I was all for working as an engineer but my father said.
“Son you have a gift for playing baseball, don’t waste it. There’s nothing stopping you playing ball then when you hang up your cleats, you can become an engineer, you see there’s plenty of forty year old engineers but I doubt there’s any sixty year old rookie ball players”.
He’d watched me play baseball, he never missed a game be it sitting in the stands or listening the radio. I wish he was taking this train journey to Pittsburgh, even after five years since he passed I still miss him.
“Here’s your pot of coffee and sandwich Mr Oxenden”.
I glanced up and said a thank you to the porter, a few seats down I saw a man and woman with a boy of around six. The boy tugged on his father’s sleeve, least I presumed it was his father. The boy pointed at me, said something to his father then turned and smiled at me the man also gave a smile but his had a tint of embarrassment with it.
A few minutes later the man and boy rose from their seat and walked towards me, just as the boy reached me he blurted out.
“Are you Mr Oxenden, the baseball player?”
I am I replied.
“My name’s Danny, I’m a, I’m a big fan”
The kid barely reached above the table, but I smiled and was about to say………….
“Daniel Jenkins I thought you wanted to go to the bathroom”.
“But Dad it’s Mr Oxenden, the rest of the kids will be so jealous I talked to Mr Oxenden”.
Tell you what Daniel Jenkins if it’s okay with your Dad you go to the bathroom, don’t forget to wash your hands and on your way back you can take a seat and we’ll talk baseball.
The kid looked at his Dad with anticipation etched across his face.
“If it’s okay with Mr Oxemdem but once he says he’s tired of you then you leave him be”.
The kid said o but the rest of the okay stretched along the compartment as he ran to the bathroom, two minutes later he was running past me and bounced on the seat opposite me.
So Daniel would you like something to eat or drink?
“A soda Mr Oxenden if that’s ok”
Best check with your Mum and Dad first, I waved the porter over and asked him to go see the Jenkins if it was ok about the soda. When the porter had reached the Jenkins Mrs Jenkins looked over gave a smile at Daniel along with a roll of the eyes and nodded to me.
So Daniel you like baseball then?
“Yes Mr Oxenden but can you call me Danny please, my mum and dad call me Daniel, usually when I’m in trouble”.
Tell you what Daniel, I’ll call you Danny if you call me John, deal?
“Yes Mr, John”.
Ever see me play Danny?
“Mostly spring training and couple of exhibition games, mostly my Dad reads the newspaper when you’ve played bit like a bedtime story”.
Was I any good?
“Mostly but once or twice not so good”.
Well least your honest.
We talked baseball that whole trip, turns out the Jenkins were spending time in Pittsburgh visiting family. It was an excuse to come watch me play, they really were my biggest fans. As we walked out of the station, I remembered a ball I always had, it was the last ball my father and I played catch with. I dug around in my bag, found it and signed it. Here Danny you look after this for me, you and your parents ever want to see a game don’t worry about tickets.
I think my Father would have liked Danny to have it.