Baby Blue

An excerpt from “Baby Blue” by John Carroll as featured in Philly Fiction 2 (Don Ron Books)

Phil looked around for Cubs fans as the crowds came back above ground. Ankiel, however, had a keener eye for the Chicago backers. He spotted a backwards blue cap three hats ahead of them. “Hey, Cubbie,” Ankiel shouted. No response. “Yo Cubbie,” a little louder. The man kept walking. Ankiel nudged Phil and nodded towards the fan. Ankiel picked up his pace, excusing himself through some fans before knocking the Cubs fan’s hat off of his head. “Our town!” Ankiel yelled. He continued walking, oblivious to the angry, hatless Cubs fan whom he left in his wake. Phil could not catch up to his partner, who waited for him at the left-field gate. Ankiel was looking up at the gigantic Phillie Phanatic display above the gate. “I can’t help but think that will get old after a while,” Phil said. “Best mascot in sports,” Ankiel replied. The seats were in the sixteenth row of left field, just in front of the cool shadow offered by the upper-deck seats. The Phillies won, 5-4. Ankiel bought the beers in the second and fifth. Phil bought the hot dogs in the third and the peanuts in the seventh. Phil was thankful that their section was unanimously pro-Phillies, though this provoked an Eagles chant out of Ankiel in the fourth. A fan seven rows down and eight seats to the left mocked Ankiel

with a Kixx chant in the following inning. Ankiel kept looking over at the fan throughout the game. Both Phil and Ankiel forgot to wear sunscreen.

The two men finally began to make their way out of the stadium after the team had finished their post-game victory handshake. Ankiel clapped in sync with the celebration music. “We won even though Zambrano went seven,” Ankiel shouted above the music, his hands still applauding. “I never thought that would happen.” Phil tried running to catch the Orange Line Express, but the train pulled away. Plus, Ankiel was in no rush down the stairwell. He high-fived some other fans in pinstriped Phillies jerseys at the bottom of the steps. When the regular Orange Line cars set off for Oregon, Ankiel leaned over to Phil, his mouth nearly touching Phil’s ear. “See the guy in the Patty’s Day jersey?” Ankiel asked. Phil nodded. The green jerseys were a novelty. The Phillies only wore them on St. Patrick’s Day during Spring Training. “He’s that Kixx asshole from the game. Keep your eye on him. I want to get off at his stop, put a little scare in him.” Phil didn’t respond, instead choosing to fix has gaze on the green jersey’s name – Schmidt. Phil spoke again when the car stopped at Ellsworth-Federal. “I don’t think it’s a good idea,” Phil said. “Following that kid.” “Why’s that?” Ankiel’s mouth was once again at Phil’s ear.

“Well, it wasn’t a very offensive thing,” Phil started. “Or I guess he’s just not worth the effort.” Ankiel tapped his fingers on his knees, seemingly calculating these words in his head. “Yeah, you’re right, let’s not bother,” Ankiel decided. “He’s not worth our time.” He then mumbled “Kixx” and shook his head. The green jersey and its friends departed at Walnut-Locust.