Run Shay Run

Initialised by the story below.

My son had trouble walking,

Faulty co-ordination,

Inclusion, NOT rejection

Welcomed, no agitation.

While out for stroll in parkland,

A baseball game in play,

By guys, knew situation,

Would they include my Shay?

He'd asked me IF they'd let him,

Deep down, I sensed they'd not,

As caring dad, with caution,

Did ask, response, I got.

"We're losing by six runs just now,

Eighth innings NOW, but wait,

We'll try to let him bat the ninth,

Can't do much worse now, mate"

Shay struggled to the team bench,

Donned team shirt, smile SO wide,

MY eyes were sopping wet now,

My heart, for team, had pride.

Ninth inning, Shay did don a glove,

In right field, he did play,

His joyous smile, ACCEPTANCE,

Though no hits came his way.

At bottom of ninth inning,

His team did score anew,

Two outs and bases loaded,

Would Shay know what to do?

Would team decide to block him

So win the game, they could?

Compassion, shown towards him

Displayed a CARING mood.

The pitcher, recognising

The LOVE, by opposing team,

Did play THEIR game and gently

Did lob, to make Shay's dream.

First pitch was clumsy, Shay missed,

So pitcher, closer, came,

This time he hit it, back, same way

To continue with the game.

A softer ball, did pitcher

Toss t'wards my now proud son,

He hit it back to 'pitcher'

THAT team, by rights, had won.

Howe'er, compassion pouring,

Pitcher, lobbed ball away,

Shay ran, with crowds a-cheering

Eagerly urging Shay

To run to Second, Third base,

Though awkwardly did he,

Both teams PLUS, all spectators

Arose to hero, be.

They continued th'encouragement,

Crowd urged him on his way,

To make the home run poss'ble

And make MY 'hero's' day.

Shay reached 'home base' to cheering,

BOTH teams, spectators too,

MY hero, was THEIR hero,

They KNEW, the 'right', to do.

Two seasons passed, as Shay did,

THAT day, he ne'er forgot,

When two teams showed COMPASSION

And PRIDE, to our son, brought.

Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?' I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.

I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, 'We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning..'

Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt.. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.

In top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.

At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game? Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.

However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact.

The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.

The game would now be over. The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.

Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates.

Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to first!

Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.

Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!'

Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base.

By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball. The smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team.

He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head.

Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home. All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay'

Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third!

As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!'

Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team!

'That day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, 'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world'.

Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!