There's Nothing Wrong With You

​Scene One – School ball diamond – April 27, 1957
 
“Dickey, are you crying?”
 
“No, Coach.”
 
“You sure look sad sitting alone on a sunny day. Something wrong?”
 
My chin bumps my chest. “No, nothing’s wrong.”
 

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“You sure? I’ve known you since the day you were born. I can tell when you’re upset. Remember when your father accused you of stealing dimes from pocket change he left on his dresser? Your dad hurt your feelings, didn’t he?”
 
“Yes, how do you know that?”
 
“You told me you didn’t think you were stealing dimes from your father. You borrowed Mercury dimes for your coin collection and intended to give them back. Just like then, you feel bad now. So, tell me, what happened at baseball practice today?”
 
“It’s my friends.” I turn and look at Coach. “I’m always picked last. Neither side wants me on their team.”
 
“Oh, I see. So you think your friends don’t like you?”
 
“I guess. Why else do I have to play right field? Nobody ever hits a ball to right field.”
 
“Okay, I’ve noticed that you usually bat last. Is that your choice or your team’s?”
 
“Billy says I have to bat last. He’s captain of the Blue team and Freddy says the same for the Red team. I want to bat first but I never get a chance because Billy and Freddy don’t like me.”
 
“Hmm, Dickey, please come with me to my office. I want to give you a vision test.”
 
Scene Two – Coach’s office – Same day
 
A white metal door closes silently behind us. Coach rests his hand on a chair. “Please take this seat. Can you see the chart on the wall?”
 
“Do you mean the one with the big letter E?”
 
“Yes, can you read other letters below the letter E?”
 
“I see F and P on the next line and T O Z on the third line.”
 
“Okay, please read the fourth line from the top.”
 
“Coach, I can’t see anything below T O Z.”
 
“Dickey, I think you need glasses.”
 
“Glasses? Why do I need glasses?”
 
“To see a fly ball or grounder or a pitched ball when you’re at bat. I’ve noticed that you miss easy catches in right field and that you take wild swings at home plate.”
 
“Yes, I thought I wasn’t good at baseball.”
 
“I bet you’re very good at baseball, just like you are in track. You have great coordination and stamina. It’s just that you can’t catch or hit a ball that you can’t see. When Billy and Freddy pick their teams they choose the best players. Billy and Freddy remember how many balls you’ve dropped, so they pick you last. If you could see the ball you could catch it or hit it. There’s nothing wrong with you that can’t be fixed with glasses.”
 
Scene Three – Ball diamond – Three weeks later
 
“Great double play, Dickey,” Freddy shouts. “I’m so glad I picked you for short stop instead of right field.”
 
I wipe sweat from my glasses. “Thanks, Freddy. I was able to snag that hard grounder, tag the runner at second, and peg the final out at first base.”
 
“Dickey, your double play won the game for the Reds! I want you to bat cleanup at next Wednesday’s game. I’d like to see one of your center field homers.”  

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Richard Wilberg, MS, PLCC, ACC 
Creativity Coach for Personal Fulfillment and Career Success
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