Summary
A Family Afternoon in the Backyard
Highlights
Playtime with Sammy
Mary spends a tender moment with her baby, Sammy, playfully helping him clap his hands while John interrupts with a surprise invitation to head outside.
The Hitting Practice
John leads Mary and Sammy to the backyard where Dean is waiting with a small baseball bat. John encourages Dean, asking if he is ready to show off his skills as a home run champ.
The Successful Hit
Dean approaches the T-ball stand with intense concentration. Upon striking the ball, it sails into the neighbor's yard, leading to an imaginative celebration where the family cheers as Dean rounds the bases.
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Original text
Clap clap clap. Mary has Sammy's tiny hands enveloped in hers and she’s making silly faces and pretending he’s applauding entirely of his own volition. Who's Mommy's baby boy? she asks happily. Clap clap clap.
Big strong hands surround hers then warm arms slip around her waist. John's mouth is hot on her neck. Come outside, he says, you don't want to miss it.
She can't think what he could be talking about but she scoops Sammy up and settles him, gurgling contentedly, on her shoulder. His hair smells so sweet.
John leads her through the house, out the back door and onto the porch. Dean is waiting there, a small weighted baseball bat dangling from one dimpled hand. When he sees her his eyes light up and a huge grin streaks across his face. Mommy! he cries, making her stop short guiltily. Has it really been that long since she's reminded him how much she loves him?
She's here to see the homerun champ, John says solemnly, taking the back porch steps with a deliberate swagger. Is that you?
Yeah, Daddy, Dean says earnestly, turning away from her with a determined frown of concentration wrinkling his little face.
Alright then, John says, positioning the ball carefully on the T ball stand and dramatically hurrying out of the way.
Thwack! The baseball sails high in a perfect arc, landing in the Winslows' backyard.
John makes ah! and the crowd goes wild! noises as Dean carefully runs the bases, touching each tree or rock in turn with his small sneakered foot. When Dean comes back to home the three of them are grinning at him. Clap clap clap go Sammy's little hands.