VISIT TO THE STADIUM

The Carson City Diamonds played on Friday July 12 2002 a home game. The second son of rancher Ben Cartwright, Hoss, had ordered 2 tickets for this game via Internet. Because he knew this his 9 year old nephew was a loyal supporter of the Carson City Diamonds Hoss had decided to take the boy out.

On July 11 Hoss said to his nephew, “Mitchy, tomorrow we are going to do something nice together.”

Mitch already became worried and looked at his uncle with distrust.

“What is that then for something nice?”, asked the youngest Cartwright.

“Tomorrow we are going to a baseball game in Carson City”, answered Hoss.

“That’s indeed very nice. But you only go as a viewer and not as a bat?”, Mitch wanted to know.

“Only as a viewer because we already have your uncle Joe as bat. And he stays nicely at home to work hard”, said Hoss.

That was a relief for Mitch.

“I am going to pack my bag and order the provisions by Hop Sing”, said the boy.

He went inside to arrange everything. Hoss finished his chores and also those of the next day.

The Chinese cook Hop Sing was in de kitchen busy with supper. Mitch came inside and went to sit at the kitchen table.

“Little Mitch keep Hop Sing company?”, asked the cook.

“Yes, but I also want to ask you something. Uncle Hoss takes me to a baseball game tomorrow in Carson City. Can you make sandwiches to take along? And those for me in a separate bag or otherwise I do know it. Uncle Hoss eats them all alone”, said Mitch.

“Hop Sing make sandwiches when little Mitch help him with supper”, was the answer.

Mitch nodded.

The whole afternoon Mitch helped the cook in the kitchen. In exchange Hop Sing made 2 bags with sandwiches ready for the next day.

Hoss and Mitch left early to be in time at the stadium. Hop Sing had done the de provisions in a separate bag and made the sandwiches for Hoss extra flat. But of course Hoss didn’t know that but Mitch did. Though he kept silent about it.

After driving for about an hour the Cartwrights arrived at the stadium of the Carson City Diamonds. Hoss parked his BMW and looked at his nephew.

“Mitchy, we are here. Now you must stay close by me”, said Hoss.

“I promise”, said the boy.

They got out and Mitch had his rucksack with him. Hoss paid the tickets and Mitch got a scoring card, a program book and a keychain with a bat on it. The youngest Cartwright did the stuff into his bag and went ahead of his uncle to their regular seats. Arrived there 2 boys were already sitting in their seats.

“You just are going to sit somewhere else because we are already sitting here”, the first one said to Mitch.

“Then you should have come earlier”, said his friend.

They laughed hard but Hoss looked stern for a moment at the 2 and they ran out of the stadium.

“Good riddance”, Hoss said where after he and Mitch could sit down on their regular seats.

With support of his uncle Mitch wrote down the lineup in his scoring book.

The game started and already in the 1^st inning the Carson City Diamonds came ahead in scoring. It was very clear that the away team the Silver City Bankers were no match for the Carson City Diamonds because they scored in each inning 2 runs against 0. The weather was also cooperation well because it was warm. Fortunately Hop Sing had given besides the sandwiches also a bottle of drink which was also empty by the end of the game.

It happened in the 7^th inning. Catcher Peter Holmes hit a ball in the direction of the Cartwrights. By coincidence Hoss was just scratching his head and the ball ended up into his hat.

“Uncle Hoss, you have caught the ball”, Mitch said excited.

His uncle looked into his hat and saw to his amazement the baseball lying. Of course the whole stadium had seen this and there was a great applause for Hoss. Here after he stood up and made a big bow which made everybody laugh. Mitch though hid himself behind his scoring book and thought, ‘I do not belong to him.’ After his solo performance Hoss went to sit down again and the ball got given to Mitch.

“Thanks uncle Hoss”, said Mitch.

“You’re welcome son. I didn’t know that a baseball game could be so nice”, answered Hoss.

“Daddy and I know that for years”, was the comment of the youngest Cartwright.

Because the Diamonds had a score of 14–0 the game only got played until the 1^st half of the 7^th inning.

When the field was empty and most visitors had gone home Hoss asked, “Mitchy, would you mind if we first get a big hamburger and then go home?”

“No, but you are hungry again, aren’t you?”, the boy asked laughing.

“Yes, especially because Hop Sing had made such flat sandwiches”, answered Hoss.

“Strange. Those of mine had a normal size”, Mitch said while he packed his bag.

Hoss got a suspicion that his nephew in cooperation with their cook had been messing around with his sandwiches but of course he couldn’t prove that.

Underway the Cartwrights stopped at Burger King where Hoss ordered the biggest hamburger and his nephew got the biggest milkshake.

“Soon you won’t eat your supper. I heard mom saying that we eat carrots covered with cheese sauce”, Mitch said suddenly.

“Well Mitchy, even though I don’t like it. I will eat it anyway”, said Hoss.

“Otherwise you won’t get any dessert”, the boy reacted teasing.

“I will never take you again to a baseball game. Are you coming or are you going to walk?”, asked Hoss.

Mitch went along at once.

Once at home his father Adam Cartwright asked Mitch, “And how was the game?”

“Great but I do want my money back”, said Mitch.

“And why do you want that?”, asked Sally, the stepmother of Mitch.

“Because I have paid for a game of 9 innings and not one of 6,5 innings. The Diamonds won with 14-0 so the game stopped after the first half of the 7^th inning. But uncle Hoss did catch a ball with his hat and I got it”, the boy told excited.

He showed the ball.

“Make sure that the twins don’t get their hands on it”, said Adam.

Mitch nodded.

“Mitchy, you must remember that I have paid for the tickets and not you! So then I should get the money”, reacted Hoss.

Not long after supper a very pleased Mitch went to sleep.