It was a particularly hard day. Truth be told, I was happy when Rodger called me up asking for help with umpiring the girl’s league team in Rock Sound. It was a relief to be out of house, lest Uncle Bert would find some labour intensive task in the field or Mother would volunteer me to get something done anyhow.

As I drove down through Governor’s Harbour toward the ballpark I couldn’t help but miss life on the road with the boys a bit, but I’d take home any day. The pay almost couldn’t cover my bills in the minor camp and Coach practically held his shoe on my neck for being a foreigner. At least here, meals were free and I was home around family and friends I love. The roar from my JC family and fans was better than anything over there. Be it ever so humble.

Whew, it’s hot. At least I was able to get out of daddy’s field early and leave before he got back. Jerry isn’t interested in the games like I was do I left him home. Just a clear head, the ocean breeze, and open roads is sufficient therapy for me!

I hope this girl’s team has done good players. I only know a few names but it would be a good opportunity for them to make a name for themselves.

I should probably park near the gate so I can slip in my car and leave but not too close to get keyed. For sure, this isn’t the home field even if it’s a girl’s game and the Harbour Hustlers weren’t too happy to see me last week and complained there way into defeat again. At least I see a few familiar faces in the small stands from here and they don’t like to support the woman’s league anyhow.

Oh good, the teams are already filing in to warm up. I’d better get out and meet the coaches before we start. Ah, I almost forgot my whistle. Whoa, the field is dry, dirts already on my cleats. Some of the players are quite fit, but I won’t stare lest they think I’m interested. Where’s the coaches?

Having met them and looking at the clock, it’s best we start on time to maintain a good standard for punctuality just in case I can do this again. Watching the clock, I think I’ll call it now, “Play ball”! We all sang the national anthem and flipped a coin fir heads and tails.

Rolle’s Auto was up but I forgot who they played. First player went up to bat and the pitcher threw 3 clear strikes. The crowd and team were understandably angry but I called it fair a a nod it was early minutes yet. The next batter was up, pitcher threw 2 balls, 3 strikes, receiving yet again moans and sighs of distress. The 3rd batter advanced to first on a fair hit, while the 4th fouled out. Following a similar rotation to the opposing team who yet received 1 base runner, a short firecracker on 3rd shouted “C’mon ump!” Quite sternly. I stopped for a second as she must not have respected my authority on the ball field. Did this little lady just over half my height not realize that I’m the official judge and jury on the field? But she was so serious and didn’t ramble on, she had me thinking, was I too strict and judging them ion a higher standard like my pro-level past? Possible, so I must consider that this is a community level game. As I continued to look at her, I saw fire in her eyes, she sure was something else - It was passion for the sport and was as if she could see through me to my core. She wasn’t flirty like the other girls I had to ignore and not foul mouthed like the others currently hurling insults. Though time stopped, I reminded myself that I didn’t come here for that and simply responded to her, “Play ball!”

After the next cycle of plays, she shouted again, “Oh, C’mon Ump!”. However, I called the came fair and told them that much. I smiled that time. She kept her eyes on my and the ball. I think she understood me then, there was no point fighting. Her team did win the game after all and so did I. I introduced myself to them afterward and explained the calls hoping they would understand the errors and be better ball players. I exchanged numbers and mailing addresses with her as I was living between Nassau and Eleuthera at the time and luckily she would be moving to Nassau. She had a shy smile and though she didn’t say much her eyes spoke clearly and made my heart beat with excitement about the possibilities. The rest as they say is history!