Angel in the City

By Manuel Davila Sr.

After becoming the top baseball prospect straight out of high School, Angel Parilla was so close to living out his childhood dream of becoming a Major League Baseball player. Making it to the bigs was so within his reach. He already began making arrangements to buy his mother the biggest house in all of Manhattan.

But as luck would have it, during a regular pickup game, Angel suffered a career-threading injury that forced him to put his career on hold. As the months went by, Angel was determined to get back on point. Although he struggled, he worked extremely hard to get back on the road to success.

Several more setbacks in his life made things even more difficult to carry out his mission, but Angel continued to fight. Landing a job to help his mother pay the bills was helpful; however, he was also trying to pay for the much-needed surgery as he continues his quest for success.

His window of opportunity began to close as the months and years began to pass him by.

The loss of his best friend changed everything, and yet he continued to push forward. Despite all his troubles, he did not give in. Angel would stop at nothing to make sure he was going to buy that house for his mother.

Everything takes a turn for the worst when Angel losses everything. His toughness is put through the test like nothing he's ever seen or experienced.

Life has a way of pushing when we are so close to the edge. For Angel, this was only the beginning.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: May 8, 2015
• ISBN: 9781503568518

Manuel Davila Sr.

Manuel Davila Sr, has been an urban story teller for two decades. Born in Brooklyn New York, grew up in Manhattan & Bronx. He has self-published several books including One Womens Journey, Super Manny and Angel In The City Free lanced mini-scripts for Organic TV.com Lives in Lawrenceville GA, with his wife and 2 kids. This is my 4th completed novel. Loves music, reading, reading and good living.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

M ONDAY MORNING WAS always rough for Angel Barilla. He hated getting up so early, wishing he could just sleep for a bit longer but when he heard his mother’s loud voice he knew he was just wasting his time.

I got to hurry up and make it to the big leagues he thought as he turned

over in his twin size bed almost falling off, the bed was getting too small for him. King size bed that’s the first thing I’m when I make big.

"Boy if you don’t get your ass out of that bed you is going to be late for work!

Angel "Angel! Get up boy you are going to be late for work!

"Come on mom, I’m up already just because my eyes are still close doesn’t mean I’m still sleeping, I’m not sleeping mom…

Boy you must take me for a fool or something. Get your ass out of that bed right this minute before I go get my bat and beat you out of bed.

Angel opens his eyes and looked at his mother. I bet you would too, you are crazy and why do I have to get up and go to work anyway? I’m about to become famous?

In case you forgot honey you are still two years away from playing in the majors so in the mean time we still have to eat and I still have to pay rent here.

"Not for long mama’ not for long Angel said smiling and yawning at the same time. She smiled because she recognized that look on his face, it was the same look his father had when he left for the Amy. He too had big dreams of playing baseball only he never got the chance to live it out.

She recalled the phone call at 3am telling her was gun down during a mission by friendly fire.

Angel was much like his father in that he dreamt of becoming a major legal baseball player.

Before his dad was sent off to serve his country the two of them would sit and watch the Mets and the Brooklyn Dodgers play on television.

It was then that he realized his son had a profound love for the game. As time went by he knew every player on each team and by the age of ten, he knew each of their batting average.

He loved baseball like a fish loved water. He would sit there with his dad while all his friends would be playing outside. Even if the home team was losing, he would sit there until the last out was made. Once the game would end he would grab his glove, his bat and head outside to join his friends.

As the years went by Angel got better at baseball, he had the entire neighborhood coming out to see him and support him. Word about his skills got out fast, he quickly became the talk of the town as one of the best players in a long time. All the local and neighboring schools began to show interest in his game.

Many of them would come to his house offering his mother future promises for the chance to have Angel play for their school.

When Angel became a teenager his mother moved him to the Bronx, right across the street from Yankee Stadium.

Ogden Ave 161 St. was a long steep hill that took about two city blocks. The only thing Angel didn’t like about it was the hill. The building was built on a very steep hill, it was going to be hard playing baseball on the block.

That all changed for Angel when he realized that right across the street was Yankee Stadium and across from the stadium was the biggest open field park he has ever seen.

It had a tracking field, a tennis court, a basketball court and a public pool.

Angel found his new playground and he loved every bit of it, even if he would never root for the Yankees, he was going to enjoyed playing in the park across from the Stadium.

Angel would get excited when he would hear the roar from the crowd cheering for the Yankees, That’s going to be me in a few years! Angel would tell his friends. They are going to be yelling my name he would tell them.

You’ll see… Come on let’s get this game started we only have a few hours before it gets dark the pitcher from the other team shouted.

Once they all took the field the game got on the way. Angel’s team took the field first.

Angel dug his old cleats into the red dirt as he did every game, it was his game time ritual before every game. Angel loved playing the hot corner at third base he quickly crotched down low and punched into his glove. The first pitch was on the way… the batter swung at the first pitch hitting a hard line shot right down the third base line catching Angel by surprise. He had no choice but to dive to his right, scoping the line drive on the second bounce. In one motion he rolled on the ground and came up throwing as hard as he could… The first baseman lunged toward the ball as it hit the dirt right in front of him, he scooped it up just as the runner was crossing the plate.

Yoooour Out! the empire yelled. Angel pumped his fist still on his knees…

Nice play Angel that’s how we do it! the first baseman said pointing his glove to Angel as he threw the ball around the infield. Yeah Baby I like what I see the coach yelled from the dugout.

One down fellas One down Angel yelled holding up one finger to let the Outfielders know he just recorded the first out of the game.

The game went scoreless for the first five innings when Angel came up to bat he had a man on second with one out. He dug his cleats into the dirt getting into his batting stands just like he watched Joe Morgan do for so many years.

Angel loved being in this kind of situation, stepping to the plate he put up one hand to let the empire know he was not ready, Angel gripped his bat then put his arm down to let the empire know he was ready to go…

Play Ball the empire yelled.

Angel took a quick glance around the infield then took a glance at the outfield he noticed that the left fielder was playing him shallow I guess he don’t think I can go that way… Angel turned his focus to the pitcher, their eyes locked as he released the ball… Low fast ball right down the middle. Angel shift his hips and swung with all his might, the bat made contact with the ball it was hit right over the first baseman head, it went screaming into right field making it all the way to the wall.

Angel took off running he knew that he would score the runner on second but he hadn’t had a triple all year long. It felt like now was the right time to change that, he was rounding first base heading into second. Angel located the ball like coach always told him when you are running, pick up the ball… then you run like hell.

Angel picked up the ball as he was rounding second, the outfielder was just picking it up… This guy was known to have a riffle for an arm Angel kept going, the outfielder looked up and noticed from the corner of his eye that he didn’t stop at second base. He smiled as he released the ball knowing he had a shoot at getting the runner at third base. Your dead meat he said as he let it go…

The ball went flying through the air like an air plane.

Angel picked up his third base coach frantically telling him to stop, but Angel had other things in mind as he kept running. The third base coach was wildly gesturing with his hands in a down motion.

Angel picked up the sign and decided to slide feet first… The slide was perfect but the throw was even better. The ball got there before Angel did he knew he was going to be out and just as he was about to make contact with the base, the third baseman put the glove down to make the tag, but as Angel foot made contact with the glove the force of his momentum forced the ball to come out the glove he went barreling into the base. Angel’s body went in one direction while his leg went in another.

The pain that exploded in his leg was like nothing he had ever experienced. His bone pop right out of his leg as it twisted in the wrong direction. His high pitch yell told everyone on the field that something was terribly wrong. The coach and the players all watched in horror as Angel grabbed the bloody bone that was now pricing through his exposed flesh…

The brake in his knee was so severe it was going to take months of rehab and lots of hard work to even get close to running again.

Angel had a 3rd-degree injury of the collateral ligament; it was ruptured during the slide causing the ligament to snap. It was going to require arthroscopic surgical to repair it.

Although he was told he would never be able to play again he was still able to walk. His limb was a constant reminder of what happen to him.

As the years went by so did Angel’s dreams of ever playing baseball again.

The lack of money disabled him from getting any kind of physical therapy to get his knee back in shape.

For months Angel watched from the side lines, his pain was a constant reminder of what happened. He tried to put it out of his mind but the love for the game was deeply imbedded in his heart.

His hope began to restore when Angel got a job working for the local high school as a ground keeper which gave him free access to the gym and all the equipment. He worked hard and worked out almost every day. He saved every penny he earned counting the days leading to his surgery. One that he would have to pay for.

For Angel there was no doubt baseball would always be a part of him and because of this feeling he believed in his heart he still had a chance to make a comeback. So he continued working hard and saving his money.

CHAPTER 2

My Best Friend Is Gone

A FTER HIS 19 TH birthday and three years of working as a grounds keeper Angel finally had enough money to pay for his much needed operation to repair his knee. The day had finally come as he anxiously counted the money he had saved.

Angel knew better than anyone how much this meant to him, he knew that his time was running out and that if he was going to get back to baseball now was the time. In baseball after you turn twenty every year after that is considered prime years and with the kind of injury he had it was going to take at least 6 to 12 months to heal.

Angel counted the money again to make sure he had enough. He managed to save 12 thousand dollars it was time to get his knee fixed and continue on with his dream of playing ball for the Mets.

Once Angel recounted the money he put it all in a brown bag then stuffed it in his back sack.

Feeling good and upbeat about his return to the game Angel smiled and headed out the room.

He was just about to walk out the door when he heard a loud crash coming from his mother’s room.

The sound stopped him in his tracks he quickly ran to the room to see what was going on. His first thought was that someone was trying to break into his house as he got to the top of the stairs he heard the eerie cry of his mother’s voice again in the distance.

Angel quickly made his way to the room scared and concern he called out to his mother as he reached the room. Help she cried out in pain. Angel entered his mother’s room only to find her laid out on the floor next to her bed.

"Mom are you alright a concern Angel asked as he approached her? I fell off the bed she managed to say. She looked up at him with tears flowing slowly down her face, I hit my… She didn’t get to complete the sentence her body started shaking wildly…

Angel was given the worst possible new he could have ever imagined his mother had a stroke that left her paralyzed from her neck down.

Completely disabling her from all movements this was devastating for Angel because he didn’t have the means to care for his mother. For the next two days Angel missed work and canceled his long awaited doctor’s appointment.

The next day his mother died in her sleep.

Facing a choice like never before Angel had to decide between burying his mother or getting his much needed operation. The choice was easy…

Burying his mother was one of the hardest things Angel ever had to do he used the money to get her the nicest burial service his money could buy. Her coffin was beautiful it was laced with a pearl white silk interior the outer shell made in green Ivory with gold handles that ran across the sides.

Green was his mom’s favorite color so Angel requested that her dress be made to match the casket. The service was lovely Angel thought as he sat there sadden by the loss of his best friend. She was all he had the thought of no longer having her around to help him was going to be difficult.

Angel realized at that moment he was alone, he didn’t have any family none of which he knew about which was evident at the service because the only people that showed up was all his friends from the team.

After putting his mother to rest Angel went back to his apartment to pack her things.

It wasn’t much some old pictures, her record collections and a few other things.

For the next few weeks Angel stayed with his best friend Willie Hernandez. It didn’t take long for Angel to realize how much of a burden he was becoming. Times were hard in the Hernandez family in truth they already had six mouths to feed adding another would make it that much harder. When Mr. Hernandez lost his job things really got bad, Angel made the decision to go back home… The apartment still looks the same everything was just as they left it. Angel made his way around the apartment he wondered how anyone could just pick up the pieces of their life after such a painful experience. It was as if he was left alone in a cold world to deal with everything on his own.

Making his way to his mother’s room Angel hesitated knowing that he would have to gather the rest of her things. He slowly walked over to her closet and began pulling everything out. By the time he was done he realized that his mother really didn’t have much that belonged to her.

He placed everything in a box and wrote on it with a red marker Mom’s things He place the box back in the closet and headed to the kitchen