Nobody from their side of the expressway knew. He had $14 in his pocket. He stood frozen while families behind him moved forward with credit cards. A boy in line said to his father loud enough, “Is he lost?” Wesley started to speak.
“Just let me throw, just three pitches.” When a voice cut across the field like a blade. “What the hell is this?” Garrett Sullivan walked toward the table. He moved like he owned the ground beneath him, because in this building, he did.
His eyes found Wesley in Two seconds, and what happened next didn't bother wearing a mask. Sullivan looked Wesley up and down. Sneakers, jeans, gray T-shirt, the old glove. The way you'd look at something stuck to the bottom of your shoe. “Who let you in here?”
Wesley opened his mouth. Sullivan didn't let him speak. “No, seriously. Who opened the door and thought this was acceptable?” He turned to the registration woman. “Is this a joke? Do we not have standards anymore? Do we just let anyone wander off the street now?”
He stepped closer, close enough that Wesley had to look up. “Look at you. You look like you slept in a dumpster. You smell like the bus. You're standing in a facility that cost more per square foot than whatever apartment your mama's renting, and you're holding a glove that belongs in a landfill.” He flicked his fingers toward the glove. “What is that? Your daddy's? Did he teach you to play in some alley?” The words landed like fists.
Every parent within earshot heard them. Some looked away. None spoke up. Wesley's jaw tightened. His hand closed around the glove so hard his knuckles went pale.
Sullivan wasn't done. Let me explain something to you, son. This program exists for athletes, real athletes. Kids with real training, real coaches, real futures. Not every kid with a ball and a dream gets to walk in here and pretend he belongs.
That's not how the world works, especially not for He paused, smiled, let the silence fill in the word he didn't say. Your situation. Your situation. The two words hung in the air like smoke. Bryce Sullivan and two teammates had stopped warming up to watch.