The Hitting Zone

Wednesday after class, Zeke took us home to an empty house. Their parents were both out, working with some clients to get a house sold. Even though Mr. and Mrs. Atkins seemed to be free to watch our games and they always came home for dinner, they were actually really busy with work. Noah told me before that when it gets to be summer time, more people move so his parents would get even busier.

Without practice, we easily beat them home.

Everyone went their own way to get homework done before dinner. Noah and I weren't assigned much in the middle of the week, but I helped him with his math before doing my own. Noah then played his video game as I did my own math homework.

"Jake, you done yet?" Kyle asked, coming into our room.

"Can't you do it yourself?" Noah looked at his older brother with disgust. "Stop using Jake."

"It's okay." I told Noah as I passed my math homework to Kyle. "I'm done. Make sure you follow it step by step. We have a test on Friday."

"Thanks kiddo." Kyle patted me on the head and left without responding to Noah.

"Why do you keep letting them copy your work?" Noah asked me, putting down his game.

I shrugged. "Isn't this what brothers do?"

Noah raised an eyebrow. "Did they tell you that?"

I shook my head. "No, but-"

"Then quit it. You can get in trouble. Not just with Mom and Dad, but with the school too." Noah lectured, sounding more like Zeke and less like himself. Old Noah would talk about blackmailing them for benefits.

Noah had been in a weird mood since yesterday. I wanted to ask him about it, but he turned his attention back to his video game.

"I'm going to go swing my bat a few times in the backyard." I told him, hoping he would join me.

"Yea, go." He brushed me off.

I started to go, but then stopped myself. If I was acting like he was, he would definitely make me talk about it. Or worse, tattle on me to his parents. I need to either speak up now or go tell his parents.

But...they weren't home. That left me with only one option.

I cleared my throat. "Noah?"

"Yea?" He didn't even look at me.

"Is there...something wrong? You don't-you aren't sounding like you're happy."

"I'm not happy." He shrugged. "It'll pass."

I frowned. "That doesn't sound right."

He groaned and put down the game. He looked at me. "I'm just frustrated. That's it. There's nothing you can do about it."

"Oh." I mumbled. "I guess I'll go play alone." I dragged my feet down the stairs, reluctant to leave, but wasn't sure what else I could say or do.

"Wait!" I heard Noah yell. He came jogging out of our room and easily caught up with me on the staircase. He put his hands in the pockets of his sweatpants. "I shouldn't play video games so much. Some extra bat swings wouldn't hurt."

I smiled, relieved. Baseball is still on his mind.

We walked down the stairs, and to the back sliding door. Through the glass we could see Dave and Zeke sitting on the back porch, talking.

Noah's face darkened. "Let's not disturb them. We can watch baseball on tv. A few games should be playing." He didn't wait for my answer. He just turned away and went to the living room.

I followed him, sending one last glance to Dave and Zeke. I really wish they saw us. Maybe they would come and ask us to join them. That would probably put Noah in a better mood.

In the living room, Noah turned on the tv and was flipping through the channels. He passed by a few different games, but I guess they weren't interesting enough to him. Just as I was trying to think of something to say, a familiar face flashed on the screen.

"Wait! Go back!!" I demanded.

Noah, startled, dropped the remote. He hurried to pick it up. "What?"

"Go. Go back." I gulped.

He flipped back a channel.

"Keep going."

He went back another channel.

"One more." I instructed, feeling my thumping heart.

Noah clicked one more time.

A familiar face... It was a picture of my dad. Him and a younger Jeremy. Close to what I remembered them as. "Turn it up."

Noah dialed up the volume.

[The voiceover said. "Pictured is a younger Jeremy with his now deceased father, Jeffrey. Jeffrey was a minor leaguer who passed away a little over a decade ago. It has recently come to light, that Jeremy's mother is in jail for attempted murder. Safe to say, that Jeremy did not take it well."

The picture disappeared and was replaced with the postgame conference, where Jeremy found out about our mom. And where he practically disowned me.

The clip finished and the announcer came on the screen. "There has been severe backlash from baseball fans and non-fans across the country. His lack of concern for the victim really brought out anger in the people. Granted, what his mother did shouldn't be held against him. Yet, he showed no interest in the safety of the young victim. Yes, young. We have confirmed that the victim was just 13-years-old at the time of the attack."

The screen split in half to show another broadcaster in a different location.

"Out of the bay, we go to Ron Schars with the latest update."

The new guy started to talk. "Thank you, Stuart." He looked right in the camera. "For the past few days, it's been all talk on how Patterson handled the reporter with the breaking news. I've spoken with his uncle, former minor leaguer, Jack Patterson. Jack was astounded to see the negative attention his nephew had gathered."

He continued. "He had told me personally, that Jeremy was just caught off guard by the sudden topic change. One second they're talking about the game, and then the next, they ask about his estranged mother."

Stuart cut back in. "And what did he have to say about the incident itself?"

Ron answered. "Jack was quick to tell me that they feel sorry for the victim and hope they're doing alright. As for the relation between the victim and his nephew, Jeremy, he claims there is none."]

"WHAT?!?" Noah jumped out of his seat. He was shaking the remote at the tv. "That little liar! Mother trucker, freakin piece of poop!" Noah ranted, yelling curses at the tv, drowning out the broadcasters.

I stared blankly, not sure how to feel. I looked up at Noah. "Do you think...maybe we're really not related..?"

Noah threw the remote on the couch. "No! Don't listen to that crap!" He started moving his hands, getting more energized. "Think about it. There's no question that your mom is your mom. They had to do the dna test when looking for your family. As for him, he didn't deny that that woman is his mother. At the very least, you share the same mother. You have to be half-siblings." He turned to glare at the tv. "I don't know why they're doing this, denying your existence, but they're going to regret it."

Noah clicked off the tv and pulled me out of my seat. "Come on. Let's go back to the room." He dragged me away.