Sticks & Stones Page #6

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and sleepless nights' wiser.

Looking back, it's astounding

how a half-ounce of lead

can so easily change

the course of history.

Besides our folks taking our

pulse three times a day,

private school is out

for me, thank God.

Mouth's mom got rid of her gun,

and Joey's dad cut his

patient list in half.

And his mom's moved

her practice home

and made a ridiculous habit

of picking us up after

school everyday.

Hayes is around.

He keeps to himself.

He's kinder and gentler,

but we never really know.

As for us, someone once said,

"You don't always pay

in cash, but you pay."

We're still paying.

Not a day passes, where

we don't cringe,

ashamed of our actions

that afternoon.

It's never quite been the same.

I wonder if it ever will.

As for Joey's arm...

he's working on it.

- Don't worry about it, Joey.

- Let's go, little brother.

I've waited long enough.

You and me, right now.

It's time.

- Forget it.

- Well, huh, what's it gonna be?

- He can't.

He doesn't have

the arm strength.

- Aw, that's sweet, Book.

But he's a big boy.

Let him speak for himself.

- Your shoulder,

Cy, don't rush it.

- Book.

- It's time.

- Attaboy.

One official at-bat.

Winner rules the house.

Get out of my way, T-ball.

- What are you doing?

- Aw, man. You're crazy.

Your arm's not ready.

You're gonna blow it out.

- He's gonna hammer you, man.

Don't do it, Joey.

It's not worth it.

- I'll be okay.

- No, your arm is not ready.

- Trust me.

It's time.

Just get behind the plate.

No cherries.

No hooks.

Just gas.

- Play ball!

- Right here, C-Roach.

Nice big, fat, juicy one.

Oo hoo hoo hoo.

- Oo hoo hoo hoo.

- That's another area

code over there, buddy.

- Foul.

Thank God.

- Stee-rike one.

- Was that the best you can do?

Huh?

Why don't you give me a little

something with salsa on it?

Something other than

your change-up.

- Blow it by him, Cy.

- Oh, no.

He's taking off his girdle.

Oh.

- Yes!

- Oh and two.

Time to punch out.

- Shut up.

- Hey, uh, I saw your girlfriend

with Scooter last night.

She was walking real funny.

- Come on, Cy.

Come on, Cy.

- We knew right then and there

it was Cy's last pitch.

His hall of fame career was

over at the age of 14.

He had two pitches left in

that rocket of an arm of his.

And he used them

up on his brother,

some would say, senselessly.

But not Joe.

It was time, and he knew it.

- Yeah!

- Truce?

- Truce.

- Lucky pitch.

- No, it was a great pitch.

Hold this.

Here.

You deserve it.

And so that was it.

An arm for some sanity.

A long, long road,

but a fair trade, I'm sure.

And so, as my mom likes to say,

good comes from bad.

And if you really believe

good can come from bad,

even a tragedy can

have a happy ending.

Let's hope so.

And oh yeah, Joey never

did pitch again,

but he did take up soccer.

And the man with the golden arm

became the man with

the golden leg.

Been such a long time

Since I felt this good

Beginning to wonder

if I ever could

I know it sounds crazy

But I feel my luck is changing

I'm back again

I'm gonna win this time

Yeah, back in the race

Get cooled off

Living life like

there's no tomorrow

Back in the race

Take a chance

Meeting the

future face to face

We're back in the race

I think that it's over

I got news for you

Don't be so quick

to count me out

Yeah

'Cause it's never over

'Til the walls

come tumbling down

I'm out of luck

Thrown it all away

Yeah, back in the race

Get cooled off

Living life like

there's no tomorrow

Back in the race

To take a chance

Meeting the

future face to face

We're back in the race

I think that it's over

I got news for you

Don't be so quick

to count me out

Yeah

'Cause it's never over

'Til the walls

come tumbling down

I'm out of luck

Thrown it all away

Yeah, back in the race

Get cooled off

Living life like

there's no tomorrow

Back in the race

To take a chance

Greeting the

future face to face

Yeah, we're back in the race

For so long I've pulled away

For so long I've pulled away

But I'm not going

And I will fight

'Til I get back

Oh yeah

Back in the race

If you don't recognize me

It's 'cause I changed

And if the past reminds you

Of what could've been now

Now the future seems certain

Well, it's all been the same

You've got to realize

That I recognized

life's just a game

It's just a game

Today, man, people change

Today, man, people change

And I swear I could change

I swear I'm gonna change

Swear I can change my ways

Well, people change

Maybe I can change, too

If you don't recognize me

It's 'cause I changed

And if the past reminds you

Of what could've been now

Now the future seems certain

Well it's all been the same

You've got to realize

that I recognized

life's just a game

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