Pyramid Schemes and Curveballs

Marcus adjusted his baseball cap, trying to look casual while his stomach did backflips. Tryouts for the varsity team were in ten minutes, and he'd spent the entire night researching hitting techniques instead of sleeping.

"You look like you're about to throw up," said Tyrell, his best friend since kindergarten, who was already wearing his varsity jacket like he'd made the team yesterday.

"I'm good. Just... focused."

"Right. That's why your mom's been blowing up my phone about that vitamin pyramid scheme she joined."

Marcus groaned. His mom had gotten involved with some multilevel marketing thing called "Ancient Nutrition Wellness" or something equally pyramid-shaped. Now she was trying to recruit everyone she knew, including Tyrell's mom, into selling Egyptian-themed supplements.

"She says the Pharaoh Vitamin tablets will give me energy," Marcus muttered. "I've been taking them all week. They taste like dirt."

"That's because they probably ARE dirt, bro."

Across the field, Sofia Reyes sat in the bleachers, an orange juice in one hand and what looked like a spinach smoothie in the other. She was examining the ingredients list like it held the secrets to the universe.

"Go talk to her," Tyrell pushed him. "Before Coach blows the whistle."

Marcus shook his head. Sofia was perfect – she did track, got straight A's, and actually liked spinach. What would she want with a freshman who couldn't even decide whether to bunt or swing?

"What if I choke?" he asked.

"Then you choke. But at least you'll have tried out AND talked to Sofia. That's what seniors do."

Coach Henderson's whistle cut through the morning air. "Alright, freshmen! Line up!"

Marcus's phone buzzed in his pocket. His mom: "Remember – Pharaoh Vitamin for peak performance! XOXO"

He almost laughed. Almost.

Sofia looked up from her smoothie, caught his eye, and gave a small wave. Something unclenched in his chest.

"Alright," Marcus said, stepping toward the plate. "Let's do this."

His hand brushed against his back pocket – the vitamin bottle was still there. His mom's pyramid scheme, his nerves, Sofia watching, baseball tryouts. It was all a mess, but suddenly, that felt okay.

Some things you just had to swing at and see what happened.