*all ages
Okay guys, when I did my section of the road trip, I identified Dan as a Braves fan when Hilary had clearly stated previously that he liked the Mets. Hopefully this story will serve to clear up any confusion! J These characters are not mine (originally, that is, LOL) and I will make no money from doing what I want with them. Thanks to Diann, my co-collaborator. Heck, she should probably have co-writing credit (Go Braves!) and Steph, you didn’t know you were going to be here, but, surprise!
The Land of the Free….and the Home of the Braves
By Karen C.
A light tap sounded on the solid wooden door. "Hey, Uncle Bill," a deep male voice rumbled in greeting.
Redheaded Bill Regan looked up from his cluttered desk, upon which sat accounting statements, the remains of a Mexican frozen dinner, and the brand new computer that, aside from his nephew and the stables, was his pride and joy. "Come on in, Dan," he replied with a grin.
Regan couldn’t get over how much Dan had changed in the past few years. He had to admit to himself that he hadn’t been at all sure about bringing Dan from the mean streets of New York City to the quiet little burg of Sleepyside. Now, however, he was so thankful he’d made the decision. Not only had Dan graduated from Sleepyside High with an advanced diploma, but he was currently majoring in criminal psychology at NYU. Those things would have been impossible for him a while back, thought Regan to himself. But look at him now!
"So what brings you by tonight, Dan? Thought you’d be getting all packed up to leave tomorrow," Regan smiled. "Don’t forget, you’ll have to get up early to start packing all that stuff in the station wagon."
Dan laughed, a rich, throaty sound which enhanced his dark good looks. "Come on, Uncle Bill. You know me-I could survive for three months on just a toothbrush and a clean change of underwear. It’s the girls I’m worried about. Well….maybe not Trixie, but I’ll bet Di and Honey are just going to be loaded down with all kinds of unnecessary junk. I actually came by to see if I could borrow your computer for a little while."
"I don’t mind at all, Dan. What are you going to do, if you don’t mind me asking?" Regan inquired.
"Well, for the past few months, I’ve been going to a baseball chat room whenever I’m over at the Beldens’. I just want to let everyone there know that I’ll be gone for a while so they don’t think I’ve dropped off the face of the earth or that I’m just totally ignoring them. They’re a really cool bunch of people….although there are three of them that can get really obsessive at times. And get this-they’re women!" Dan shook his head as if he couldn’t believe it.
"Take your time, Dan. I’ll be working in the stables late tonight anyway, seeing that Joan and her dad are coming down later this week. Gotta make sure everything’s perfect for Stinson, you know. But if you leave before I get back, I’ll see you in the morning for sure. You know I’m always up at the crack of dawn anyway," Regan said. "See you later."
"Bye, Uncle Bill…and thanks," answered Dan.
Dan quickly switched on the computer and waited for the America Online screen to come up. Logging on as CommandoDan, he went directly to the website and in just a few clicks, made it in the chat room.
"Yes!" he shouted, pumping his fist in the air. "It actually let me in the first time I tried!"
Scanning the list, he searched out familiar names. Before he could begin, he was greeted with:
<Lonewolfie> Hey Commando! J
<KarenCTX> Hi Dan!
<CommandoDan> What’s up girls? Where’s Steph?
<Lonewolfie> She couldn’t make it tonight. She’s actually AT a game, LOL-the Cubs were playing the Reds tonight.
<KarenCTX> Well, Dan, we’ve made a decision. By the time the night is over, you WILL be assimilated. Resistance is futile.
<Lonewolfie> Yes, Dan, the time has come. You have no choice. We simply cannot let you labor under the delusion that the Mets are the best team in baseball.
<CommandoDan> LOL! Okay, I’m feeling pretty mellow tonight…go ahead, convince me. Just try it. I’m waiting!
<KarenCTX> OK, to start with, you cannot ignore the great Braves players of the past. Warren Spahn, one of the all-time great pitchers. And Hank Aaron? I shouldn’t have to say any more than that, but something tells me you are going to need greater means of persuasion. J
<Lonewolfie> What about the greatest catcher they’ve ever had? Greg Olson? I mean, he did have to share the plate with Damon Berryhill at times, but he was awesome. And the good looks don’t hurt, you know!
<KarenCTX> Well, Diann…if we’re going by good looking catchers, I have to argue with you here. Javy Lopez, hands down. Although since they are both Braves, we’ll just consider them the best two catchers the Braves have ever had.
<CommandoDan> Well, what about the ’69 World Series? Come on, the Mets were incredible! And in ’86? No one thought they could win!
<Karen CTX> Dan, you know they wouldn’t have won in ’86 if Bill Buckner hadn’t made that…faux pas for the Red Sox by letting the ball run between his legs down the first base line.
<Lonewolfie> And speaking of Warren Spahn, he was just the first in a long line of great pitchers! What about the pitchers they’ve had over the past ten years? Smoltz, Glavine, Avery, Maddux, Millwood, Mercker? And don’t forget probably the best relief pitcher in the game today, John Rocker! Not to mention the seven, yes, count ‘em, seven Cy Young awards the current pitching staff has between them?
<KarenCTX> Exactly…I believe the Mets have only had two Cy Young winners in the past twenty-five years-Doc Gooden and Tom Seaver, correct?
<Lonewolfie> Face it Commando Boy, your weak arguments don’t stand a chance!
<CommandoDan> But the Mets have so much history!
<KarenCTX> And the Braves don’t? Somehow I think that having the all-time home run leader as a former team member qualifies as "history", don’t you, Danny Boy?
<CommandoDan> Well….I hate to admit this…but I’m weakening
<KarenCTX> Go for it, Diann! Go in for the kill!
<Lonewolfie> Well, Dan, I now must play my final trump card….consistency. What other team has consistently been as good as the Braves over the past decade? Even USA Today figured out that the Braves are the winningest team of the decade, thank you very much. People may talk and say that so-and-so team had this and that, but the Braves are always good.
<KarenCTX> And the Mets have had so many "problem" players….Strawberry and Gooden, to name two. Good players both, but unable to get their act together enough to end their careers gracefully.
<CommandoDan> OK, OK…you have a point. I’m not quite ready to convert wholeheartedly yet, but you’ve got me interested enough to where I’ll have to do some research on the subject. I’ll keep up with the Braves while I’m gone and let you know where I stand when I get back. Satisfied? J
<Lonewolfie> Get back? Where are you going?
<CommandoDan> You both got me so off track I almost forgot the whole reason I came in tonight. I’m leaving tomorrow morning on a road trip and I’ll be gone the whole summer. I didn’t want you to think I was just ignoring you or that something had happened to me.
<KarenCTX> Dan, that’s so sweet! Are you going by yourself?
<Lonewolfie> No, I bet he’s going with his friends. You know that you’re more than welcome to come visit me in Alabama, right?
<KarenCTX> And I’ll be happy to show you around San Antonio if you get a chance.
<CommandoDan> Thanks guys….but listen, I have to run. I have to get up early so we can get on the road. I’ll miss you! Tell Steph what’s going on, OK?
<Lonewolfie> Will do, Dan. Have a great trip!
<CommandoDan> Ten-four, good buddy. Over and out.
--Commando Dan has left chat—
<KarenCTX> So Diann, do you think Dan wears underwear……
* * *
Dan sighed as the computer shut down, then turned off the lights as he left Regan’s apartment.
I wonder what this road trip will bring us. Hopefully, just a nice relaxing vacation.
The End