The Batboy

By Terry O'Reilly

Seventeen-year-old Thad Stevens loves baseball -- he’s loved it for as long as he can remember. Thad’s dream of becoming a batboy comes true when he’s chosen to be on the squad for the Buzzards, a local, semi-pro baseball team.

His duties put him in constant contact with his idol, shortstop Iggy Hernandez. Thad struggles with his growing attraction to the handsome ball player.

One day Thad accidentally discovers Iggy has a secret life. What will Thad do with this new information, and what implications does it have for the young batboy and his relationship with the man he admires?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Queerteen Press
• Release date: Sep 2, 2012
• ISBN: 9781611523737

Terry O'Reilly

TERRY O’REILLY, the winner of hundreds of international advertising awards, is the bestselling author of The Age of Persuasion and This I Know. He is also an in-demand speaker. His highly awarded radio programs O’Reilly on Advertising, The Age of Persuasion and Under the Influence have been broadcast on CBC Radio since 2005, and his podcast has been downloaded over forty million times. Terry O’Reilly lives outside of Huntsville, Ontario.

Book preview

The Batboy

By Terry O’Reilly

Published by Queerteen Press

Visit queerteen-press.com for more information.

Copyright 2012 Terry O’Reilly

ISBN 9781611523737

Cover Credits: Zagorodnaya | Dreamstime.com

Used under a Standard Royalty-Free License.

Cover Design: Written Ink Designs

All rights reserved.

WARNING: This book is not transferable. It is for your own personal use. If it is sold, shared, or given away, it is an infringement of the copyright of this work and violators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

No portion of this book may be transmitted or reproduced in any form, or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher, with the exception of brief excerpts used for the purposes of review.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are solely the product of the author’s imagination and/or are used fictitiously, though reference may be made to actual historical events or existing locations. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Published in the United States of America. Queerteen Press is an imprint of JMS Books LLC.

* * * *

The Batboy

By Terry O’Reilly

I’m home! Thad Stevens yelled as he came into the house.

Slamming the door behind him, he tossed his backpack onto the small table that stood just inside, nearly knocking over the vase of spring flowers.

Did the mail come yet?

No one answered, so he made his way to the kitchen and called out again.

"Mom, hey, Mother! Are you here?"

He went to the fridge, opened the door, and took out a can of Coke.

Mom? he yelled again, opening the can.

What? his mother said with an irritated edge to her voice as she emerged from the basement, carrying a basket of neatly folded clothes.

Thad turned and re-asked his earlier question regarding the arrival of the daily mail.

Mrs. Stevens let out an exasperated sigh. Yes, it came. It’s on the table in the foyer where I always put it so your father can find it when he gets home. How was school today? How was baseball prac—

She never got the question out. Thad sprinted for the foyer. There, hidden under his backpack, he found the stack of assorted letters, bills and advertisements. He quickly went through them. Not finding what he hoped, he dropped the pile back on the table.

Damn, he muttered under his breath.

eHeThad picked up the backpack and headed for the stairs.

His mother came into the entryway. Find what you were looking for? she asked, following him up the stairs with the laundry basket.

No, came the answer in a tone that reflected his disappointment.

Well, don’t worry. I’m sure with your fine academic record and baseball experience they’ll give you a chance to try out.

Thad paused as he reached his door. Yeah, but it’s been almost two weeks since I sent in my application. He continued into his room and closed the door. Dropping his backpack on the floor, Thad flopped onto his bed and took a swig of Coke.

Two weeks should be enough time, he thought, feeling frustration and annoyance that he hadn’t heard whether he’d be given a chance to try out for a batboy position with the Buzzards, the local semi-pro baseball team. The deadline for applications had been a week ago Monday.

Thad loved baseball. He couldn’t remember not loving it. He’d seen pictures of himself swinging a wiffle bat and hitting a ball over the fence into the neighbor’s yard. His dad still proudly showed off the pics saying, Baseball’s in his blood.

Thad had been two when those pictures had been taken. He’d gone on to play tee ball little league, pony league, and for his high school baseball team. When he went to college he planned on playing there, too. He hoped for a career as a pro ballplayer after that.

This would be the last year he would be eligible to be a batboy. Fourteen to seventeen was the age range the Buzzards’ organization had set for their batboy squad. He was seventeen. He’d applied every year for the past three years, and every year he’d gotten a letter thanking him for his interest, reminding him that over a hundred kids applied so not to be discouraged, and to think about trying again next year. This time there would be no next year, however. It was now or never.

Damn! Maybe I shoulda put in more time on that Why I want to be a batboy essay they wanted. Just seemed like a dumb idea to me. I write the