2061.01 - The Drive

[Lane]

The Drive May 14, 2061
The sun had yet to rise in Belmont Heights as he walked into the kitchen to prepare his coffee. He weighed the beans for a double shot of espresso and asked his home AI assistant for the latest news. As usual, the first item was a recap of the game from the previous day, conveniently overwhelmed by the shrill noise of the grinder. The smell of the coffee was a welcome distraction from the national politics report, and he watched the espresso flow into the glass, a beautiful crema rising to the top. Taking his first sip, he took in the weather report, sunny with a high of 75, and was grateful to be living and working in the beautiful city of Long Beach.

He was on the road as the sun began to rise, savoring the drive to the stadium on the nearly empty streets of the city. The third shift security guard waved the general manager through the gates, and was returned with a polite nod, no time for pleasantries today. The marine layer muted the morning sun, contributing to the somber mood that hung over the stadium on this rare Saturday with no game scheduled. The private player and personnel underground parking was as expected, empty, and dimly lit. He brought the car to a gentle stop in the space reserved for him, glancing briefly at the plaque on the concrete wall adorned with his name and title.

The elevator doors opened without delay, and he was whisked up high into the stadium, arriving in the foyer of the management offices. He strode confidently to his office, and as he reached for the door handle with his right hand, he noticed how worn down it was looking. Walking around his desk to the floor to ceiling windows overlooking the softly lit stadium he heard the door close gently behind him as his gaze scanned the field.

Scanning the field from left to right, he saw the retired numbers, from 79 for the great Ted Sale to 20, retired just this season for Danya Tchekanov. A banner beyond left center field commemorated the 14 division championships, five of which he can claim credit for. Just to the left of the batter's eye, a flagpole proudly displays the teams two Frick League Pennants, 2029 and 2044, below the crown jewel, the flag for the 2029 BBA Champion Long Beach Surfers.

That same year, the fourth of the GM's tenure, the team had returned home from their ill-fated time in Tucson, Arizona. The stadium was pristine and the fans were exploding with excitement; the trifecta of the team's return, the Frick League Pennant (their first), and the Brewster Series win captivated not only the City of Long Beach, but the Greater Los Angeles area as well.

As his eyes continued looking over the field, they paused on the visitor bullpen beyond right field, and he was snapped out of his reminiscence. He turned purposefully towards the built-in shelving on his right, striding over and gracefully engaging the hidden latch, causing the shelves to swivel, and revealing a dimly lit landing, with a narrow staircase going down straight ahead of him.

[RonCo]

I like it. Can't wait for the next

[Dington]

Love it