Matt turned the key the power the ignition off. He unlocked the car, opened the door, and stepped out into the late afternoon air. Walking towards the front door of his large home, Matt locked his BMW behind him with a click, looking like the professional business man he was. After shuffling through the many keys on his lanyard, Matt finally found the familiar object that would grant him access into his home. However before he could successfully fit the key into the hole, the knob twisted and door was opened to a burst of cool air and a small welcoming body that immediately embraced Matt.

“Good afternoon, Charlie! How’s my little boy doing this fine day?” Matt bent down so his son could plant a slobbery kiss on Matt’s cheek. The sweet sound of giggling rang in his ears, but was soon replaced by the melodic hum of his wife. “Babe, maybe you should stick to cleaning the house.” Matt teased his wife with a wink. The Nathan family was picture perfect. Both Matt and Sarah were young, only twenty-six and their age (what little thereof) certainly wasn’t showing yet. Charles Jameson Nathan was the most enthusiastic five year old who loved showing off. Matt was a successful business owner, currently at the top of his game from taking over the family business. Life was at bliss in the Nathan household.

Long after the sun had set and the fireflies begin their game outside, all the Nathans find themselves in bed. Little Charlie peacefully dreams of the simple things in life, while Sarah began dozing off next to Matt who laid in the king sized bed, watching the flat screen television that hung mounted on their wall. The glow in Matt’s eyes reflected the constant change of imagery on the news. Even though Matt was watching the television, his mind was far off somewhere else. He couldn’t help but smile as the feeling of holding Charlie for the first time. The eight pound, seven ounce boy brought tears to his eyes. Matt, being so young and new to parenting, was scared to death. It didn’t matter though, for Matt loved Charles and was determined to give him the best life. He would grow up to be just like his dad. He would ride go-carts, go swimming every summer, and play baseball. Baseball, it’s been a long time sense that has crossed his mind.
All the memories flooded back to Matt faster than the first pitch of the season. Matt had college after college, and even a couple professional teams lined up in his back yard. They all wanted him to play for their team. Baseball was Matt’s only dream, his only desire as a young man. It’s the only thing he did besides eating and sleeping. However, with Matt being an only child to run the family business and having parents as strict as the Nathans, Matt had to accept baseball wasn’t in his future. He was broken hearted, left with no time to mourn. Being the smart man he was, he had already completed two years of college credits, making his college years go by fast and becoming an adult coming at him even faster. He still thought about his baseball career, and so did other schools constantly making offers. After he met Sarah, he was ready to settle down. She was the one, and he wasted no time letting her doubt and put the ring on her finger. Matt was quickly thrown into the real world, forced to forget about the amazing career he would've had in baseball.

Matt couldn’t fall asleep. He kept thinking about baseball and how he let his dreams slide through his fingers. Matt was still young was it too late to go back; to take a chance with his dreams? Matt finally fell asleep with the familiar desire in his heart to play baseball again.

Matt woke early, excited about the day. He walked outside to the shed that was never tampered with and began his mission. Matt rummaged through every box, looked under every shelf, and in all the corners. His glove was nowhere to be found. After about an hour, Sarah found her husband out in the yard tearing apart the shed. Charlie, like all other toddlers, was close behind his mother to make sure he was inside on all the commotion. “Hunny, what are you doing?” Sarah finally questioned her husband.

“I can’t find it.” Matt said, his annoyance clear as day in his tone of voice.

“Find what, sweety?” Sarah replied, worried for her husband had never been one to have a temper. Matt threw another cardboard box outside the shed.

“Here!” Sarah could hear a new happiness in Matt’s voice she’s never heard before. “I found it! Oh my god, I’ve missed you so much.” Matt’s voice was relieved.

“What did you find, daddy?” Charlie giggled, amused with his dad’s gleeful attitude. Matt ran out the shed with a brown baseball glove that had been worn with use.

“This! Here! It’s my baby!” Matt examined his glove, yearning just to catch a simple ball. He noticed the sullen look from Sarah, an obvious punishment for Matt’s choice in words. “Well, you’re clearly my child Charles. It’s just this is my childhood, my dreams.” Matt spoke as if he was in a daze of love. Sarah gave him the look, and he knew it was time to go inside and acquire the well-deserved talking to Matt was about to receive.
*****

“Matthew Griffin Nathan, what was that all about?” Sarah scolded while cooking Charlie some bacon.

“Sarah, you know my dreams of becoming a professional baseball player. It’s something I’ve wanted forever. I know I’m past the point where scouts can just come watch me play, if I still can even hit a ball, but I was thinking last night…”

“Thinking about what? Babe, you haven’t played in four years. You can’t just go digging through the shed, find your glove, and expect to be placed on the Pittsburg Pirates.” Sarah spoke trying to get her point across. Being the hard headed man that Matt was, the words meant nothing to him. Sarah could see the determined look in his face. It was a look she used to love; it was the look he got before proposing to her. “Just go.” Sarah spoke soft and defeated. With permission, Matt stood up and grabbed his glove.

“Hey daddy! Where ya going?” Charlie asked walking into the room.

“The field, son. I’ll be back later.”

“But its Saturday daddy… we always spend time together Saturday.”

“For Christ’s sake Matthew, take the boy with you at least.” Sarah spoke defeated and destructed. Matt willing accepted her offer, and both boys hopped into the BMW and drove to the baseball fields.

Matt’s first goal at the field was finding someone to work out with. Fortunately practice at the local high school was just finishing, the coach happily stayed after to shag a couple balls. Charlie sat on the bench swatting flies away and watching his dad throw the ball around with Coach Trivial. Charlie was generally impressed with the amount of skill his father possessed. He would catch the ball each time, and make a perfect, sharp throw back to Trivial hitting his chest every time. Every ground ball hit to him, no matter the difficulty was cleanly fielded and returned to the coach. “Ya know what man, you’re really good. Have you talked to any scout?”

“Nah, I’m just trying to get back into my groove.” Matt shrugged off the compliment.

“Well if you still need some back up getting your groove back, I’ll be happy to help.” Coach Trivial offered.

“Seriously? Thanks man, that means so much!” he replied ecstatic.

“Yeah, anything for a future professional player.” Coach Trivial said plainly.

“You mean it?”

“If you put your all into it, sure you have a chance.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Coach Trivial. Thank you again.” Matt said taking his glove and walking back to his BMW with Charlie following behind him. On the ride home, Matt couldn’t stop smiling. His dream was back. All of his hopes as a teenager were in grasp, just waiting for Matt to reach out.

“Daddy, are you going to leave?” This question brought Matt back to the real world.

“What do you mean, Charlie?” Matt asked offended.

“Well I see the way you look when you play baseball. You look happy. It’s what you want isn’t it?” Charlie, a young five year old was showing off again. Matt had seemed to forget the fact the Charles was smarter than your average child.

“I do love baseball, son. But I also have a job, you, and your mom I need to tend too as well.” Matt reminded not only his son but himself.

“I guess it’s your choice daddy. It’s your dream.” The words settled harder on Matt’s heart than expected.
*****

That night, Matt tucked Charlie into bed as normal and returned to his own room. Sarah was already lying in bed with her eyes closed, but Matt knew her well enough to know she wasn’t sleeping. He slithered into bed next to her and took a deep breath. “Charlie said you did really well today.” Matt grunted in response. Sarah sat up, anxiety written all over her face. “He also talked about the conversation on the ride home.”

Matt sat up as well. “Oh yeah? What did he say?”

“It’s your choice. I know it’s your dream hun.”

“Its not that easy, Sarah.” Matt spoke harshly, his frustration seeping through his words. He harshly turned off the light and lied back down. Soon, sleep overcame his exhausted body.

In the morning when he woke, Matt could smell the aroma of freshly cooked eggs. He stretched and slowly got out of bed, the pain of soreness overwhelmed him but only made him want to play even more. He walked downstairs and into the kitchen and was welcomed to “good morning” all around. He responded with a smile and walked over to his plate. He grabbed a slice of bacon and his keys, making his intentions of going to the fields blankly obvious.

“So is this your choice? Missing Sunday breakfast?” Matt paused at the door.

“It’s the start of my choice. Things need to be done to get there though, and that’s what I’m doing now.” Matt explained.

“May I come with you daddy?” Sarah shook her head, but Matt had other ideas.

“I would love that Charlie!” Charles hopped up and ran the BMW. Before closing the door leaving Sarah alone, Matt added, “I love you Sarah”, and then shut the door.
Coach Trivial was waiting for Matt against the fence when they arrived. Matt approached him; glove in hand ready to begin playing baseball. “Sorry for making you get up on your Sunday morning, but I won’t need your help.”

The expressions of confusion on Charlie and Coach Trivial faces were similar. “What do you mean?” Charlie questioned. “Don’t you need his help so you can play baseball for a professional team? Isn’t this your dream?”

“No Charlie. You and your mom are my choice. You guys are my dream, my whole life, and my whole world. I am here with you, so you can play baseball and have a dream like I did.” Matt said, his eyes glossy with tears.

“Really?” Charlie asked.

“Of course, baby.” Matt handed Charlie the ball and a new dream was born.