Ennead Loses in 2 parts

The Ennead Gazette

Editor in Disbelief: Adam “can’t catch’em” Mead

Special Double Issue, Mid Morning Edition

Something’s come in pairs, this kind ain’t something you can wear.

Tuesday May 10 6:00 Eastern Standard Time; 42° 50' N; 73° 60' W

Several dozen high school boys cover what is to be our softball field. Tempers flare as we “pull” our permits and tell them to scram. The adolescent rage was palpable. This was high stakes architecture league softball. We need our field! Team Ennead took the field again KPF, the titans if midtown. What followed will be talked about in the back alleys of the west village for dog years. We jumped out to an early lead, only to be reined back into a tie. This would play out over 7 innings. Natasha was playing for two, at 2^nd base. She made some magnificent plays that kept us close, still in the race. But as 7 O’clock the hour hand neared, the game was called, ending in a tie, everything we had feared. We had flown too close the sun of a win, and found are true level. Sitting side saddle at the bar, we ordered our usual. Hey look over there, it’s a bronze bust of Stan Musial. Final Score 8-8. Raising our record to a sour 0-3-1

Monday May 22 5:30 Eastern Standard Time; 40° 47' N; 73° 58' W

The Smoke had just begun to clear from the post rapture, humility hung heavy in the air. Clouds colored 40% grey forming a flat non committal evening day. The Phillips Group (TPG) came in their brand new blue jersey’s, brandishing attitude something close to verisimilitude. We shook off the attempt at intimidation, if the rapture would not happen, maybe there was hope for reincarnation. We would take to our bats first, and flex some muscle, and if need be take the field to the tune of “do the hustle.” TPG came out swinging, 5 runs, 4 horsemen of the apocalypse they was bringin’. Team Ennead has learned about as much as you can in 3 loses and a tie, and as the runs amassed against us we waved the chance at a win goodbye. 5 more runs across the bases did come. Constance swung her bat, and Matt did run, if not all of us, then they would at least get 1 run. The games end came quickly, called after 4 innings, 14-1, in defeat rather sickly. But as is our way, we raised our heads high, necks angled towards the sky, and as the muscles tighten, it was our wallets that were lightened, as we washed away defeat, with bud light, and chicken wings minus the feet. Team Ennead stumbling into it’s by week at 0-4-1. Looking for some help from Oprah, and one of those teachable moments.