“Whose idea was it to have our 30th reunion at a box at an A’s game?” Jesse asked.
An hour before first pitch, and the four longtime friends were standing in the massive luxury suite at Sutter Health Park, the temporary home of the Athletics on their way from their fifty-year residence in Oakland to their new digs in Las Vegas. Beyond the outfield and the lawn seating was the Tower Bridge over the Sacramento River and downtown Sacramento. It would be a perfect Spring evening, the temperature already topping out at 80 degrees and expected to drop into the 60s.
“Who else? The resident sports guy who doesn’t know life without a ball and a score,” David said, looking over at Paul.
“What? I think this is awesome,” Paul answered. “And look. If you don’t like the people in our class, then you can sit out here and watch the game. How can you do that at some stodgy hotel ballroom?”
Jesse shook his head. Since they were in high school, Paul had a knack for getting his way. As sports anchor for KARC, he brought up the idea early and was persistent enough to wear down the rest of the committee, even if it meant taking business away from the Sawyer, where David was General Manager. He had a point. The novelty of their reunion held at a suite at the ballpark boosted interest and ticket sales.
“MIHO, did Paul screw you out of a commission?” Rob asked, using the nickname their group had given him three decades earlier.
“Yeah,” David shrugged, but then dropped his head as if he might cry.
“Really? It wasn’t that bad, was it?” Paul asked, not considering the impact on his friend.
David burst out laughing, happy to end the ruse at Paul’s expense. “I don’t get that type of commission for booking a ballroom for a night. And to be honest, I’m so glad I don’t have to play momma to everyone here like I would if it were at the Sawyer. Neither would Sarah.”
“She’s coming?” Paul asked. “Is she bringing that asshat of a husband?”
“Wow, that’s fire,” Jesse said. “Who’s her husband. And did you sleep with her or something?”
“No, that was Rob,” Paul smiled and wrapped his arm around Rob’s former NFL frame. “But her husband is the columnist at the Tribune. And he’s a total dick, full of himself, and overall boor.”
“Ah, so he’s like you,” Jesse said.
“No, Paul’s right,” Rob said. Leading them back inside the suite. “Sarah and I dated like 20 years ago when I was in town. I didn’t end it well when I moved to Reno. She was truly heartbroken. And then, she got with him. He’s not very pleasant. And look, you’ll get to find out for yourself.”
“No wonder he’s jealous,” Jesse said.
When Sarah entered the room, Jesse finally made the connection. She was in his Physics class, and they were both in a couple of the service clubs. Another benefit to the reunion at the ballgame was the casual dress the ambience demanded. No ballgowns or suits. Lots of jeans, T-shirts, and A’s gear. Sarah wore jeans and a vintage V-neck T-shirt from the 2000s, maybe when she was dating Rob. Next to her was a permanent scowl in a misfitting polo and long cargo shorts.
“Ah,” was all Jesse needed to say to affirm Paul and Rob’s assessment. Paul raised his eyebrows, and Rob turned to avoid eye contact.
“Just stop,” David said. “Be nice.”
When Sarah saw the four of them, she smiled broadly, spread her arms out wide, and walked to them. Meanwhile, her husband’s constipation grew worse.
“Oh my God. It’s so good to see you guys,” she said. “Well, I see David every day and Paul on the news all the time, but Jesse? And Rob? So good to see you.”
Jesse and Rob both hugged her. Alex's indifference when Jesse hugged Sarah turned to restrained fury as Rob embraced her. It didn’t help when Jesse heard a faint female sigh and moan. Clearly, twenty years had not healed the jealousy.
“Are you excited about tonight?” Jesse asked Sarah, trying to deflect the conversation away from the ex-NFL linebacker.
“Of course,” she said. “I missed our 20-year reunion because our son Drew was sick and Alex had to work. And I missed our 10-year, well, because I didn’t want run into somebody.” She looked at Rob, and the air got heavy.
“How about you, Alex?” Jesse asked.
Alex raised his eyebrows, wondering why someone would ask such a stupid question. “Um, no. I don’t believe in reliving adolescent memories. It’s reductive and fake. No one cares what promotion you got a year ago, or what your entitled kids are doing these days, or how many babies they’ve had. Just let me drink my scotch in peace.”
Sarah shook her head, then smiled and patted his shoulder. “He didn’t have quite the high school experience we did,” she said. “Rob, are you still in Reno?”
Jesse nearly laughed at Sarah’s continued focus on Rob. Clearly, this reunion was some sort of play between Sarah and her husband, and the rest of them were only chess pieces on the board.
“Yep,” Rob said. He picked it up too and tried to be as indifferent as possible. Alex didn’t care. His eyes were bearing into Rob through tiny slits. “Been there for about 15 years now.”
“Still a Private Investigator?” She asked. Rob nodded.
“Couldn’t make it as a cop?” Alex commented. “Not that that’s a bad thing, given the brutality I’ve seen.”
“Well, blowing out both knees playing professional football had more to do with it,” Rob volleyed back, then turned to Sarah. “David says he just hired you at the Sawyer. That’s exciting. He doesn’t tell us the dirt about the rock stars that stay at the hotel before they perform at the arena. How about you? Any salaciousness?”
“Nothing more than you did in the day, right, Paul?” Alex said. Jesse was beginning to get the picture. Paul made a series of private missteps early in life, but had moved past them a decade ago.
“Hey, Paul,” Jesse said, shifting the conversation. “Does Brett Austen think it’s weird returning to A’s after being with the team for so long?”
Austen had taken a free-agent offer to play with Kansas City after hitting .400 with the A’s two seasons ago. Putting an end to talk of a repeat historic performance, he missed much of last season with an Achilles tear. This was the first time facing his former club.
“When I interviewed him yesterday, he said it’s weird, but now that it’s not the Coliseum, it’s not about the A’s. It’s about his former teammates. But it seems he’s moved on.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Jesse watched Alex pull Sarah aside. He strained an ear to eavesdrop. He knew it was rude, but Alex fascinated him. He was more egotistical than Paul, which was saying something.
“Why am I here?” Alex said through thin lips. “I’m like one of the only plus-ones here. And your boyfriend didn’t bring his spouse here. Was that so you guys could hook up?”
“Please,” Sarah raised her hand. She was not having it. “First off, that was 20 years ago. Secondly, can you not be rude for once? I thought you’d enjoy taking a night off from the politicians for once. I thought we could have a fun night.”
“With this crowd? Hardly.”
“Well, I’m planning a fun time,” Sarah said and turned to go see another classmate. Before she left, she told him, “I have people to see. Feel free to hang out and watch the game. But I want to reconnect with old friends.”
Sarah left, and Jesse watched Alex look around, searching for a relevant conversation to join. Before Alex could latch back onto their group, he turned, closing off the circle. Jesse felt rude, but after hearing what he had said to Rob and Paul, he realized he was acting in Alex’s best interest. No one wants a beatdown.
Alex walked past them to the doors leading to the limited seating above the field. The friends hung back enough to allow Alex his space and to stay within the air-conditioned confines of the suite. But they could still see Brett Austen taking batting practice.
“Such a smooth swing,” Paul said. “Even though I’ve seen free agents move teams my entire life, it’s still strange to see Austen in something other than green and gold.”
On his next swing, Austen hit a long fly ball into deep centerfield. While Jesse admired the ball, Alex ignored it and sat down in the corner of the outside seats tied to the suite, as far away as he could from anyone that might be inclined to talk to him. Jesse eyed him with mystery. Over the years, he’d come across many assholes who didn’t meet a person they couldn’t offend. But Alex Shelby looked for the opportunities.
“What’s up with that guy?” Jesse asked. “Is he always this angry?”
Paul nodded. “Yep. I see him at least twice a week, and he wears a permanent scowl. But most of the time, he’s like that, off to the side. It’s when he’s talking to you that you have to be careful because he wants something.”
Paul looked at his watch. “Before it gets too crazy up in here, I need to go see an old colleague from ESPN. She’s working as a play-by-play announcer for the Royals.”
“She?” David asked, his eyebrows raised.
“Don’t be sexist,” Paul said. “She’s great. Dana Peck. She was on ESPN and the Baseball Broadcast Network. Rob, remember she covered your cornhole tournament nearly four years ago. Anyway, I’ll be back in ten, and then we can get this reunion started.”
Paul left, smiling, waving, and hugging former classmates on his way out the door. He was the local celebrity, and everyone wanted a picture with him to stick on their social media to say they were C-list celebrity adjacent.
“I’m going to go watch the game,” Jesse announced. The truth was, he wasn’t here to see his classmates, just his friends. And he’d rather be outside and watch the game and wait for his friends to be done socializing than to endure the endless banter and small talk that came with these events.
“Just avoid Alex,” Rob laughed. Jesse smiled, but that was exactly where he was going. He ordered a beer, grabbed a hot dog, and made his way to the seats. With Shelby sitting in the front row in the corner, Jesse sat behind him. He leaned back and sipped his beer.
On the field, the promotion team was in the midst of the ceremonial first pitch. A member of the school board went to the mound and waved to the crowd.
“Five bucks she skips it,” Jesse leaned in and said to Alex.
“That’s a fool’s best,” Alex grumbled. “Five bucks says it doesn’t make it to the catcher. She’s about as awkward as a newborn donkey on roller skates.”
“Even if she rolls it?” I asked. “If so, then I’m in.”
For the first time that evening, Alex brandished a smile. From his own pessimism, Jesse knew that cynics could criticize people’s abilities, whether in athletics, speaking, or picking out the chips for a party. “All right,” Alex said. “With that money, I can buy half a beer.”
“That should be enough to make you extra belligerent,” Jesse said.
“Nah, I have one level regardless, but it’s more than most can handle.”
“I gathered,” Jesse said. “And Sarah dragged you here.”
Alex nodded. He shared how it was the only way he could get her to go to the annual newspaper gala, where he won something. “She said that if she had to endure boorish blowhards in the media industry, then I could handle one night with Paul Buckley and her ex-boyfriend.”
“You know that was like 20 years ago, right?”
“I know, but how do I compete with that huge man? I don’t, so I revert to the only tool at my disposal, sarcasm and quips.”
“I don’t know if it’s working.”
“You haven’t been playing a 15-year game of passive-aggressive chess with your wife.”
Jesse nodded. He and Danielle got off that train years ago, and now he knew what their life would have been if they hadn’t decided to make a change together.
On the field, the school board member took the baseball, went into a windup, and delivered a perfect strike to the catcher. Alex and Jesse looked at each other with more surprise than if she sprouted horns. Alex shook his head and reached into his pocket for his wallet.
“Hey, before you do that, double or nothing,” Jesse said. Alex tilted his head with interest. “If the national anthem is longer than 100 seconds, then you don’t owe me anything. If it’s shorter, then you have to promise to have a good time and try to be nice.”
“No bet. That’s impossible,” Alex said. He wasn’t a fan of this game.
“Oh, come on, Alex. I guarantee that you’ll have a better time if you don’t get into an argument with anyone. You might even get a smile from her, and with some wine in her system, who knows?”
Jesse spoke from experience. Danielle had dragged Jesse along to his share of law firm receptions and parties, which fostered resentment for years. It was only when Jesse realized that if she was happy when they left the gathering, the ride home was more pleasant, which often led to bedroom fun when they got home.
Alex assessed Jesse’s proposition before looking back into the suite, where he and Jesse both looked at Sarah.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, please rise and remove your hats as for the National Anthem,” the PA announcer said over the loudspeakers.
“What do you say, Alex?” Jesse asked.
“All right,” Alex said. “I’ll take the bet.”
“Oh say, can you see,” the performer began, and Jesse began the stopwatch. Jesse held the phone for both of them to see. They both stood in rapture as they heard Frances Scott Key’s poem recited in melody by a Christian gospel singer. No doubt, Key didn’t expect his words to be involved in so many musical runs. With each one, Jesse wondered if his bet would result in Alex remaining surly and disengaged.
“O’er the land of the free,” 1:15. Jesse felt confident, but “free” went way too long. “And the home.”
1:25 “Of the”
1:28 “Brave”
“It’s going to be close,” Alex laughed as the last note was held and held.
1:39. The note stopped before 1:40 came across his phone.
“No fucking way,” Alex said. “How did you know?”
“I didn’t. But now you have to be a good partygoer.”
Alex burned his eyes at Jesse for what seemed like another 100 seconds before smiling and laughing. “OK. You put me in a good mood, and as long as I don’t have to talk to her ex-boyfriend or Paul, then I’ll be the good, dutiful husband.”
Jesse smiled. “All right then. Let’s have a great night.”
An hour before first pitch, and the four longtime friends were standing in the massive luxury suite at Sutter Health Park, the temporary home of the Athletics on their way from their fifty-year residence in Oakland to their new digs in Las Vegas. Beyond the outfield and the lawn seating was the Tower Bridge over the Sacramento River and downtown Sacramento. It would be a perfect Spring evening, the temperature already topping out at 80 degrees and expected to drop into the 60s.
“Who else? The resident sports guy who doesn’t know life without a ball and a score,” David said, looking over at Paul.
“What? I think this is awesome,” Paul answered. “And look. If you don’t like the people in our class, then you can sit out here and watch the game. How can you do that at some stodgy hotel ballroom?”
Jesse shook his head. Since they were in high school, Paul had a knack for getting his way. As sports anchor for KARC, he brought up the idea early and was persistent enough to wear down the rest of the committee, even if it meant taking business away from the Sawyer, where David was General Manager. He had a point. The novelty of their reunion held at a suite at the ballpark boosted interest and ticket sales.
“MIHO, did Paul screw you out of a commission?” Rob asked, using the nickname their group had given him three decades earlier.
“Yeah,” David shrugged, but then dropped his head as if he might cry.
“Really? It wasn’t that bad, was it?” Paul asked, not considering the impact on his friend.
David burst out laughing, happy to end the ruse at Paul’s expense. “I don’t get that type of commission for booking a ballroom for a night. And to be honest, I’m so glad I don’t have to play momma to everyone here like I would if it were at the Sawyer. Neither would Sarah.”
“She’s coming?” Paul asked. “Is she bringing that asshat of a husband?”
“Wow, that’s fire,” Jesse said. “Who’s her husband. And did you sleep with her or something?”
“No, that was Rob,” Paul smiled and wrapped his arm around Rob’s former NFL frame. “But her husband is the columnist at the Tribune. And he’s a total dick, full of himself, and overall boor.”
“Ah, so he’s like you,” Jesse said.
“No, Paul’s right,” Rob said. Leading them back inside the suite. “Sarah and I dated like 20 years ago when I was in town. I didn’t end it well when I moved to Reno. She was truly heartbroken. And then, she got with him. He’s not very pleasant. And look, you’ll get to find out for yourself.”
“No wonder he’s jealous,” Jesse said.
When Sarah entered the room, Jesse finally made the connection. She was in his Physics class, and they were both in a couple of the service clubs. Another benefit to the reunion at the ballgame was the casual dress the ambience demanded. No ballgowns or suits. Lots of jeans, T-shirts, and A’s gear. Sarah wore jeans and a vintage V-neck T-shirt from the 2000s, maybe when she was dating Rob. Next to her was a permanent scowl in a misfitting polo and long cargo shorts.
“Ah,” was all Jesse needed to say to affirm Paul and Rob’s assessment. Paul raised his eyebrows, and Rob turned to avoid eye contact.
“Just stop,” David said. “Be nice.”
When Sarah saw the four of them, she smiled broadly, spread her arms out wide, and walked to them. Meanwhile, her husband’s constipation grew worse.
“Oh my God. It’s so good to see you guys,” she said. “Well, I see David every day and Paul on the news all the time, but Jesse? And Rob? So good to see you.”
Jesse and Rob both hugged her. Alex's indifference when Jesse hugged Sarah turned to restrained fury as Rob embraced her. It didn’t help when Jesse heard a faint female sigh and moan. Clearly, twenty years had not healed the jealousy.
“Are you excited about tonight?” Jesse asked Sarah, trying to deflect the conversation away from the ex-NFL linebacker.
“Of course,” she said. “I missed our 20-year reunion because our son Drew was sick and Alex had to work. And I missed our 10-year, well, because I didn’t want run into somebody.” She looked at Rob, and the air got heavy.
“How about you, Alex?” Jesse asked.
Alex raised his eyebrows, wondering why someone would ask such a stupid question. “Um, no. I don’t believe in reliving adolescent memories. It’s reductive and fake. No one cares what promotion you got a year ago, or what your entitled kids are doing these days, or how many babies they’ve had. Just let me drink my scotch in peace.”
Sarah shook her head, then smiled and patted his shoulder. “He didn’t have quite the high school experience we did,” she said. “Rob, are you still in Reno?”
Jesse nearly laughed at Sarah’s continued focus on Rob. Clearly, this reunion was some sort of play between Sarah and her husband, and the rest of them were only chess pieces on the board.
“Yep,” Rob said. He picked it up too and tried to be as indifferent as possible. Alex didn’t care. His eyes were bearing into Rob through tiny slits. “Been there for about 15 years now.”
“Still a Private Investigator?” She asked. Rob nodded.
“Couldn’t make it as a cop?” Alex commented. “Not that that’s a bad thing, given the brutality I’ve seen.”
“Well, blowing out both knees playing professional football had more to do with it,” Rob volleyed back, then turned to Sarah. “David says he just hired you at the Sawyer. That’s exciting. He doesn’t tell us the dirt about the rock stars that stay at the hotel before they perform at the arena. How about you? Any salaciousness?”
“Nothing more than you did in the day, right, Paul?” Alex said. Jesse was beginning to get the picture. Paul made a series of private missteps early in life, but had moved past them a decade ago.
“Hey, Paul,” Jesse said, shifting the conversation. “Does Brett Austen think it’s weird returning to A’s after being with the team for so long?”
Austen had taken a free-agent offer to play with Kansas City after hitting .400 with the A’s two seasons ago. Putting an end to talk of a repeat historic performance, he missed much of last season with an Achilles tear. This was the first time facing his former club.
“When I interviewed him yesterday, he said it’s weird, but now that it’s not the Coliseum, it’s not about the A’s. It’s about his former teammates. But it seems he’s moved on.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Jesse watched Alex pull Sarah aside. He strained an ear to eavesdrop. He knew it was rude, but Alex fascinated him. He was more egotistical than Paul, which was saying something.
“Why am I here?” Alex said through thin lips. “I’m like one of the only plus-ones here. And your boyfriend didn’t bring his spouse here. Was that so you guys could hook up?”
“Please,” Sarah raised her hand. She was not having it. “First off, that was 20 years ago. Secondly, can you not be rude for once? I thought you’d enjoy taking a night off from the politicians for once. I thought we could have a fun night.”
“With this crowd? Hardly.”
“Well, I’m planning a fun time,” Sarah said and turned to go see another classmate. Before she left, she told him, “I have people to see. Feel free to hang out and watch the game. But I want to reconnect with old friends.”
Sarah left, and Jesse watched Alex look around, searching for a relevant conversation to join. Before Alex could latch back onto their group, he turned, closing off the circle. Jesse felt rude, but after hearing what he had said to Rob and Paul, he realized he was acting in Alex’s best interest. No one wants a beatdown.
Alex walked past them to the doors leading to the limited seating above the field. The friends hung back enough to allow Alex his space and to stay within the air-conditioned confines of the suite. But they could still see Brett Austen taking batting practice.
“Such a smooth swing,” Paul said. “Even though I’ve seen free agents move teams my entire life, it’s still strange to see Austen in something other than green and gold.”
On his next swing, Austen hit a long fly ball into deep centerfield. While Jesse admired the ball, Alex ignored it and sat down in the corner of the outside seats tied to the suite, as far away as he could from anyone that might be inclined to talk to him. Jesse eyed him with mystery. Over the years, he’d come across many assholes who didn’t meet a person they couldn’t offend. But Alex Shelby looked for the opportunities.
“What’s up with that guy?” Jesse asked. “Is he always this angry?”
Paul nodded. “Yep. I see him at least twice a week, and he wears a permanent scowl. But most of the time, he’s like that, off to the side. It’s when he’s talking to you that you have to be careful because he wants something.”
Paul looked at his watch. “Before it gets too crazy up in here, I need to go see an old colleague from ESPN. She’s working as a play-by-play announcer for the Royals.”
“She?” David asked, his eyebrows raised.
“Don’t be sexist,” Paul said. “She’s great. Dana Peck. She was on ESPN and the Baseball Broadcast Network. Rob, remember she covered your cornhole tournament nearly four years ago. Anyway, I’ll be back in ten, and then we can get this reunion started.”
Paul left, smiling, waving, and hugging former classmates on his way out the door. He was the local celebrity, and everyone wanted a picture with him to stick on their social media to say they were C-list celebrity adjacent.
“I’m going to go watch the game,” Jesse announced. The truth was, he wasn’t here to see his classmates, just his friends. And he’d rather be outside and watch the game and wait for his friends to be done socializing than to endure the endless banter and small talk that came with these events.
“Just avoid Alex,” Rob laughed. Jesse smiled, but that was exactly where he was going. He ordered a beer, grabbed a hot dog, and made his way to the seats. With Shelby sitting in the front row in the corner, Jesse sat behind him. He leaned back and sipped his beer.
On the field, the promotion team was in the midst of the ceremonial first pitch. A member of the school board went to the mound and waved to the crowd.
“Five bucks she skips it,” Jesse leaned in and said to Alex.
“That’s a fool’s best,” Alex grumbled. “Five bucks says it doesn’t make it to the catcher. She’s about as awkward as a newborn donkey on roller skates.”
“Even if she rolls it?” I asked. “If so, then I’m in.”
For the first time that evening, Alex brandished a smile. From his own pessimism, Jesse knew that cynics could criticize people’s abilities, whether in athletics, speaking, or picking out the chips for a party. “All right,” Alex said. “With that money, I can buy half a beer.”
“That should be enough to make you extra belligerent,” Jesse said.
“Nah, I have one level regardless, but it’s more than most can handle.”
“I gathered,” Jesse said. “And Sarah dragged you here.”
Alex nodded. He shared how it was the only way he could get her to go to the annual newspaper gala, where he won something. “She said that if she had to endure boorish blowhards in the media industry, then I could handle one night with Paul Buckley and her ex-boyfriend.”
“You know that was like 20 years ago, right?”
“I know, but how do I compete with that huge man? I don’t, so I revert to the only tool at my disposal, sarcasm and quips.”
“I don’t know if it’s working.”
“You haven’t been playing a 15-year game of passive-aggressive chess with your wife.”
Jesse nodded. He and Danielle got off that train years ago, and now he knew what their life would have been if they hadn’t decided to make a change together.
On the field, the school board member took the baseball, went into a windup, and delivered a perfect strike to the catcher. Alex and Jesse looked at each other with more surprise than if she sprouted horns. Alex shook his head and reached into his pocket for his wallet.
“Hey, before you do that, double or nothing,” Jesse said. Alex tilted his head with interest. “If the national anthem is longer than 100 seconds, then you don’t owe me anything. If it’s shorter, then you have to promise to have a good time and try to be nice.”
“No bet. That’s impossible,” Alex said. He wasn’t a fan of this game.
“Oh, come on, Alex. I guarantee that you’ll have a better time if you don’t get into an argument with anyone. You might even get a smile from her, and with some wine in her system, who knows?”
Jesse spoke from experience. Danielle had dragged Jesse along to his share of law firm receptions and parties, which fostered resentment for years. It was only when Jesse realized that if she was happy when they left the gathering, the ride home was more pleasant, which often led to bedroom fun when they got home.
Alex assessed Jesse’s proposition before looking back into the suite, where he and Jesse both looked at Sarah.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, please rise and remove your hats as for the National Anthem,” the PA announcer said over the loudspeakers.
“What do you say, Alex?” Jesse asked.
“All right,” Alex said. “I’ll take the bet.”
“Oh say, can you see,” the performer began, and Jesse began the stopwatch. Jesse held the phone for both of them to see. They both stood in rapture as they heard Frances Scott Key’s poem recited in melody by a Christian gospel singer. No doubt, Key didn’t expect his words to be involved in so many musical runs. With each one, Jesse wondered if his bet would result in Alex remaining surly and disengaged.
“O’er the land of the free,” 1:15. Jesse felt confident, but “free” went way too long. “And the home.”
1:25 “Of the”
1:28 “Brave”
“It’s going to be close,” Alex laughed as the last note was held and held.
1:39. The note stopped before 1:40 came across his phone.
“No fucking way,” Alex said. “How did you know?”
“I didn’t. But now you have to be a good partygoer.”
Alex burned his eyes at Jesse for what seemed like another 100 seconds before smiling and laughing. “OK. You put me in a good mood, and as long as I don’t have to talk to her ex-boyfriend or Paul, then I’ll be the good, dutiful husband.”
Jesse smiled. “All right then. Let’s have a great night.”