Gemotions

"Daniel, come here a moment," the coach said, beckoning him over. Daniel, a reserve outfielder in a slump, felt a knot of dread tighten in his stomach. He expected to hear about being benched. But instead, the coach said, "We're giving you a shot at shortstop."

My jaw dropped, I thought to myself. The knot instantly dissolved. This was it, the chance he’d been waiting for, a chance to finally prove himself. The other players watched him with varying expressions; a few were curious, a couple were jealous, but most seemed to wish him well.

He walked toward his new position, already imagining the plays he'd make. He could feel the sun on his face, the stadium seemed to hum with promise. The feel of the glove, the dirt, the game, was all that seemed to matter.