A little Aggressive Negotiations on navigating
As Gertie’s Girls headed back down to Maryland, the car was filled with the echoes of their ongoing banter. The 13th stop on their journey took them to Rockville, the home of the Rockville Pikemen, but not without a detour up north to Brooklyn.
"I still don't get why we had to drive all the way to Brooklyn after Charm City," grumbled Lila from the backseat, crossing her arms. She had her reasons for wanting to get to Rockville directly and soak in all its historic charm.
"Yeah, and it wasn't even on the way!" chimed in Molly, who had been the navigator for this leg of the trip. Her face was scrunched in exasperation, mirroring Lila's sentiments. "We wasted hours!"
Gertie, the unofficial leader and namesake of their little group, shrugged nonchalantly. "I had my reasons," she said, with an air of mystery.
"Oh, please," scoffed Casey, rolling her eyes. "It was all because of that stupid Mighty Ducks obsession of yours! Admit it, you just had to find Elden Henson's house."
Gertie turned slightly red but laughed. "Okay, maybe it was partially that. I mean, come on, Elden Henson was Fulton Reed! You can't blame me for wanting to see where he grew up."
"And I suppose the rest of us were just supposed to tag along on this wild goose chase?" said Molly.
Gertie nodded sagely. "Exactly. Besides, it was a good bonding experience. And we found some cool places in Brooklyn, didn’t we?"
Checking off a bucket list item...
"We definitely have to go to that museum," Lila said, suddenly perking up. "Remember, Molly said you'd be a part of the exhibit with your ancient navigation methods."
Molly laughed. "Yeah, but you could join the exhibit too, with your love for those old cassette tapes. Seriously, who still has a Walkman?"
“Rockville’s not just about outdated technology, though,” Gertie pointed out. “It’s also known for its beautiful parks and the Rockville Town Square. There’s the Civic Center and the Glenview Mansion, both perfect for photo ops.”
“And of course, there’s the Pikemen’s games,” added Casey, who was the most avid sports fan among them.
That evening, they made their way to Owen's Ordinary to catch the Pikemen’s game against the Charlotte Flyers. It was a crisp, partly cloudy evening with the wind blowing in from left field, making it a perfect night for baseball.
The girls settled into their seats just in time for the first pitch. The atmosphere was electric, and the crowd of 31,831 fans buzzed with excitement. The Pikemen's pitcher, Bill Mills, was in top form. He kept the Flyers' hitters in check, allowing only one run on five hits over seven innings. The girls cheered loudly, especially when Masahiko Harada, the Pikemen’s designated hitter, delivered a clutch single in the bottom of the fifth inning, driving in a run and solidifying Rockville’s lead.
“This is why I love baseball,” Casey shouted over the din, her eyes sparkling. “It’s the tension, the strategy, the pure athleticism!”
Molly, who wasn’t as much of a baseball enthusiast, found herself getting caught up in the excitement. “I have to admit, this is pretty fun,” she said, grinning.
The game ended with a 3-1 victory for the Pikemen, thanks to Mills' stellar pitching and Wade’s solid save, his sixth of the year. The loss put Charlotte at 15-13, but the Pikemen’s win made the trip worthwhile for Gertie’s Girls.
As they left the stadium, Gertie turned to her friends with a smile. “See? This is why we went to Brooklyn first. We needed a little adventure before settling in here. And now we’ve got all weekend to explore Rockville.”
Lila, Molly, and Casey had to admit, despite the long drive and the unexpected detours, the trip had been worth it. They had shared laughs, argued over trivial matters, and made memories that would last a lifetime.
“And who knows,” Gertie added with a wink, “maybe tomorrow we’ll find something even more interesting than Elden Henson’s childhood home.”
The girls laughed, ready for whatever came next on their journey.
