Hittin' It Out the Park Read Online Free Page A

bored.”
    Both Cheryl and Randy started laughing, and though Henry did his best to keep his reserved demeanor, even he eventually let out a few chuckles.
    â€œI brought you another glass of water, in case you changed your mind, Mr. Alston. I hope you don’t mind?” Henry asked after he fully gained his composure.
    â€œNot at all, Mr. Reynolds. Thank you,” Randy answered, trying unsuccessfully to mimic Henry’s clipped tone.
    â€œHow do you two know each other?” Cheryl asked after the man had left.
    â€œOh, we don’t really. I only met him for the first time today.”
    Cheryl looked at him quizzically. “And you exchanged names?”
    â€œYeah, it’s kind of funny, actually.” Randy flashed a small grin. “I’ve never been ta one of these fancy parties before, you know, where they go around serving drinks on a tray, you know? So, I come in with Mr. Archer—”
    â€œMr. Archer?”
    Randy nodded. “He’s a sports agent. He’s the one what invited me to this party. I couldn’ta afforded no five-hundred-dollar ticket, otherwise.”
    â€œSo, okay, you came in with Mr. Archer . . .” Cheryl prodded.
    â€œAnd so as soon as we come in he’s going around talking ta people, and people are talking ta him, and pretty soon I look around and I don’t know where he is. So, I’m standing in the corner, by myself, and Mr. Reynolds—”
    â€œYou mean Henry?”
    â€œWell, ya know, I’d feel funny calling him by his first name, being he’s old enough to be my father,” Randy said sheepishly. “So, anyway, Mr. Reynolds walks by with a tray of champagne, and asks if I want one. I say no, and he walks away. About an hour goes by, and I’m still in the corner, by myself, and he comes and asks if I’d like a martini. I tell him no. Another half-hour goes by, and he comes by again. And then he gets kinda close to me and says all proper-like, ‘Excuse me, are you sure you don’t want anything at all, sir? Perhaps I can get you a special drink from the bar.’ So, now I’m feeling a little embarrassed, you know? So I tell him a glass of water will be fine, ya know? But then, when he’s about to leave to get it, I ask him if there’s a charge for the water.”
    â€œOh, no.” Cheryl clapped a hand over her mouth. “You thought—”
    â€œHeck, I ain’t never been ta no party where they was giving out free drinks before. And it’s an off-payday weekend, so I’m not carrying a lot of cash, ya know?” Randy chuckled. “So, then he looks at me, and his lips get real tight like he’s trying not to smile, and he tells me all the drinks are free.”
    â€œOh, poor Randy,” Cheryl cooed, between chuckles.
    â€œWhen he gets back he’s smiling and all, and I’m feeling like I know him by now, so I introduce myself, ya know? And then he tells me his name, and bam, I done met my first person at this high-falutin’ party.”
    Cheryl took a sip from her drink. “Well, you know Mr. Archer.”
    Randy snorted. “I probably know Mr. Reynolds better than I know Mr. Archer.”
    â€œI thought he was your agent?”
    â€œMine? Nah. I wish he was, though.” Randy let out a sigh. “He’s got some pretty big names on his roster.”
    Cheryl’s brows furrowed. “I don’t get it, then. Why did he give you a ticket to this party?”
    â€œTo tell you the truth, I don’t know.” Randy shrugged. “He showed up in the dugout last week, and was talking to our manager. After he finished he came over and tapped me on the shoulder and asked me if I’d ever been to New York City. I told him no, and he said that Nike was giving a party that I might want to check out, ya know? Told me the date, gave me his card, and said for me to call his office to have them send me a ticket.