JAYSON

                          VISITS

                            HIS

                  GRANDMOTHER

                         STEPHEN POLLARD

Bala Cynwyd, PA

October 1, 1870

Having woken up from a nights sleep, gathering himself together and fixed himself some breakfast, Jayson Gannon was a 16 years old with a very bright future.

Having saved his money from when he was with the circus and now as a professional baseball player, he could afford his own place.

The baseball season was over, the 16 year old had quickly become the star player of the new American Baseball League, with his playing skills he had become a star hitter leading the league with a .360 batting average, leading his team the Philadelphia Diamonds to the pennant and the championship game, receiving plaudits as the Player Of The Year from his peers in the new fledgling league.

Jayson knew that the time had come to reconnect with his grandmother Isabel Dunning and so many years having distanced himself from her.

Jayson walked to grandmother Isabel’s house, since that it was not that far in distance from where he was living. Reaching the house he walked up to the door knocking on it. Through the curtains he could see her walking to the door. Grandmother Isabel opened the door, at first having an amazed look on her face, then she displayed a happy broad smile when she realized who was knocking at her door.

Welcoming Jayson in the house, she gave him a big hug, tears rolling down on her cheeks. She said to Jayson, “come on in and sit down on the couch”. Saying to Jayson “I knew that you would be by sometime, the writer from the newspaper, William Henderson has kept me informed on your progression this year on the baseball team”.

Jayson knew who she was talking about, knowing that William Henderson was a neighbor of grandmother isabel. “My, my” she said, “you left the circus and that evil Mr. Landis Hawkins. You joined the team, walked on the field and became an instant star and you’re just only 16. You’re the talk of the town”. She exclaimed to Jayson, “you’re the star of the team and the league, you came out of nowhere and became a champion”.

Excitedly grandmother Isabel just gushing said, “you joined a baseball team that had been a perennial champion in their season after season tournament play and made them an even better team and you single handedly helped them win the championship”.

Jayson smiled and modestly explained, “I was just doing what I was suppose to do”.

Grandmother Isabel said, “I hear that you’re just a natural, just like a duck in the water, that you make everything that you do look easy when everyone else is struggling along”.

Jayson said to his grandmother, “I wish that I had listened to you, and instead of running away to the circus, I should have hung out with the baseball team, for I could be an even better player, but having spent time with the circus, I think that helped me grow up, mature faster, that’s why I think that I have handled joining the baseball team and doing as well as I did this past season”.

Jayson and Isabel continued to chat, Isabel filling in on what he had missed out on the previous 6 years. 

Time was flying fast,  realizing what time that it was, Jayson said that it was time to go. So he kissed grandmother Isabel on the cheek, getting ready to leave, said to him, “i’ll have to have you over for dinner sometime”.  Continuing, she said, “I will have to have William Henderson over too, you two will have a lot to talk about”. Jayson said, “that sounds great”. He then left the house and started walking toward his home.

(C) 2020