Sphinx in the Infield

Marcus adjusted his cap, fingers sweaty. Baseball tryouts at Ridgewood High felt like walking into the lion's den—except the lions were varsity players who'd been starting since Little League, and Marcus had spent his sophomore year hiding in the library.

"You nervous?" The voice belonged to Riley, the new girl who'd transferred from somewhere cooler than Ohio. She sat on the bleachers, sketching something in a notebook. A sphinx moth—the kind with the cool moth markings—rested on her shoulder like some kind of familiar.

"Obviously," Marcus admitted. "I haven't played since sixth grade. My mom cut the cable to save money, so I couldn't even watch the games for research."

Riley laughed. "Research. Cute." She tapped the sketch. "You know what's wild? Sphinx moths are actually hummingbirds in disguise. They hover, they drink nectar, but they're moth-shaped. Identity crisis on wings."

Marcus blinked. "That's deep for a bug."

"That's high school, though. Everyone's pretending to be something they're not."

Coach Wilson blew the whistle. Marcus jogged onto the field, heart hammering. His dog Buster waited by the fence, tail thumping, because his owner had finally emerged from the house after months of pandemic-era hermit behavior.

First pitch: swing and a miss. Second: foul tip. Third—CRACK. Line drive straight to right field. Marcus scrambled toward first, sneakers tearing up dirt,Varsity players actually watching.

"Not bad," Riley called from the bleachers. The sphinx moth fluttered upward, silvery wings catching sunlight.

Marcus slid safely into second, chest heaving. For the first time in two years, he wasn't the quiet kid. He was a baseball player, sort of. A sphinx moth in a world of butterflies, learning to hover.

"Hey," said the shortstop, extending a hand. "I'm Devon."

Marcus grinned, sweaty but electric. "Marcus. And yeah, I'm nervous."

"We all are, man. That's the gag."

Buster barked from the fence like he understood everything. Riley gave him a thumbs-up. Marcus took his position, ready to swing again.