Marcus+W-Alone+in+the+Land+of+the+Free

The nose of the plane lifted up as the wheels left the tarmac and Australian soil for what was to be a year’s separation form family and friends. Lucas Green left for America on the 13th of April 2009 and would not return till November 2010. Saying goodbye in the terminal had been hard being with family and friends it was a sad event yet the event had been undercut with excitement. Dad had shaken my hand and told me “son we’re proud of you, whatever you achieve is an added bonus” that was his version of I’m ecstatic. Mum made me promise that I had to call once a day but relented to once a week while making sure I had all my gear in my hand held luggage till I had to board the plane. The flight over felt like an age and I was constantly woken up by a little Asian girl sitting behind me pulling on my seat and putting her knees into my back till she finally fell asleep 10 minutes before landing. Customs was fine though I was searched for hidden weapons this did not bother me though everyone seemed to regard me with hostile glances. I booked a hotel in near Yankees stadium and exited the airport and looked around there were cabs but I dint know how to get their attention until a high pitched whistle made me jump and a cab stopped in front of me. I turned and looked and saw a tanned young man looking at me with a grin “you looked lost so I thought I’d give you a hand” he said in a slightly American sounding Australian accent “where you headed?” “Chelsea Star hotel you?” “Same place mate” he smiled and chucked his gear in the back after mine though he seemed to have slightly less gear than me. I asked and he grinned “this ain’t my first time I just got back from a holiday back home”, he shut the door and the cab pulled away. “So what position do you play?” “Pitcher you?” “Catcher” he grinned and I realised he was relieved he didn’t need to fight for his position. “Starter?” “Reliever” “That’s good we lost a reliever in the minor leagues he got drafted”. We pulled up outside a glitzy hotel and we paid the cabbie and gave him a good tip and walked into to the lobby where he waited till I checked in then walked up to my room where I chucked everything inside. “I’d suggest drinks but you’re probably jet lagged and you don’t want to be tired tomorrow I’ll swing round to grab you in the morning and take you to the coach so they can get details and stuff”. I nodded my thanks now that he mentioned it I was really tired and the bed looked really soft and welcoming. “I’ll see later then” he went to close the door but I suddenly realized that I didn’t even know his name “wait I didn’t get your name” the door halted in its tracks and then opened again “Riley Jefferson and you?” “Lucas Green” “I’ll see you tomorrow Lucas” and the door shut with a click. I woke up from my first night of sleep in a foreign land well rested and cramp free which was a relief after my attempts at sleeping on the plane failed miserably. Riley knocked on the door almost the exact some time as I finished everything. “Morning” he said blearily I grinned “so the sleeping part was only for me” he shook his head and sort of staggered to the lift “no I’m just not a morning person” “So no alcohol was involved?” “Had a night cap” “Which was..?” “Bottle of Jack” a smile started to tug at the corners of his mouth I chuckled” you’ll be awake before we get there “ “We’re eating first I’ll take you to hell good diner”. W arrived at the diner and it was close to empty diner I raised an eyebrow in his direction “shut it its good” he sulked and walked in and ordered two of the dishes straight up and beckoned me over “ so what am I having?” he smiled big breakfast you’ll love it. A waitress came over “would you like something to drink “coffee” the word was his mouth before I could react and the waitress and I smiled “and what would like?” she smiled at me “I’ll have a coke thanks” she jotted it down and moved away but it was a bit longer before our gazes slid back “she was something wasn’t she “I grinned as he tried to act like he didn’t really care “how much was it the food was good and how much was it the waitress is hot?” he shrugged non committed “both” and he perked up when the waitress come back with to plates piled high with bacon, egg, sausage, hash browns and onion which smelled absolutely mouthwatering. We tucked into that though he didn’t always seem paying a 100% attention when she was around. We left the diner and tipped the waitress a bit more then average and I saw a napkin amongst the bills and she did to because she smiled as we walked out. The coach was a no nonsense person that knew heaps about baseball but not a lot about people skills “you Australian boy?” “Yes sir born and raised” “Well can you play baseball?” “Yes I suppose” “You suppose? Well I’ll tell you something you gonna go with all the other pitchers and you gonna pitch to an American whos gonna tell me if you can pitch or not and guess what your gonna do whatever I tell ya is that understood” by the time he finished he was nose to nose with me and it was though I personally offended him “yes sir” “Good move your sorry ass to bullpen I want you there yesterday” I jogged over to bullpen and started to warm up with a catcher that seemed to share his coach’s views. I pitched fairly well and my slider was starting to get even dirtier as it broke moving from corner to corner but its height was off. The other pitcher weren’t friendly and some were very aggressive and hostile many I heard discussing how they weren’t going to be replaced by an Australian and that they should only be Americans playing. I left the field feeling isolated as Riley called saying he got traded to some other club and now I felt truly alone.