The Bear Behind the Plate

Tyler's life was officially cooked before fourth period even started.

"You're doing it," said Jenna, leaning against his locker with that terrifying confidence. "Varsity baseball needs a mascot for Friday's game, and you're the new guy."

"A bear?" Tyler's voice squeaked. Smooth. "I don't even like sports."

"Exactly. You're perfect." She tapped his chest. "Don't make me beg, Tyler. The cable company finally fixed my WiFi, and I promised I'd stream the whole thing for my cousin who's sick. If there's no bear, there's no content."

The logic was unhinged, but Jenna was senior class president and also happened to be the reason Tyler had spent two weeks growing his hair out. So here he was, Friday night, sweating inside a polyester bear head that smelled like every middle school dance ever.

The baseball game was a disaster. JV was losing 12-2, and Tyler's job was apparently to wander the sidelines and wave. Parents were watching. The baseball team was watching. And worst of all, the baseball team's captain—Marcus, who had arms like actual pythons—kept laughing every time Tyler tried to cheer.

"Nice hustle, bear!" Marcus called, cracking up his teammates.

Tyler's face burned against the synthetic fur. This was it. His social death was being livestreamed to Jenna's sick cousin and probably everyone else because OF COURSE she'd forgotten to turn off the live stream.

Then the foul ball came.

It sailed through the air, directly at Jenna, who was filming from the first-base line. Tyler didn't think. He just moved, ducking under the cable barrier that separated the field from the stands, his giant bear paws flailing.

The ball thunked into his chest.

Silence. Then—

"WHAT A SAVE!" the announcer's voice boomed over the speakers. "THE BEAR BEARS THE BURDEN!"

The crowd went wild. Marcus ran over, high-fived the bear head. "Dude, that was legendary. You're coming to every game now."

Jenna was grinning at him, phone still recording. "Tyler, that was literally the most chaotic thing I've ever seen."

Later, bear head finally off and hair definitely ruined, Tyler sat in the bleachers while the cable guy's van pulled out of the parking lot. The guy had stayed to watch the last inning, had laughed at Tyler's bear stumble, had taped the whole thing.

"Hey," Jenna said, sitting next to him. "My cousin says you're her favorite person now. Also, Marcus wants to know if you'll be the bear next Friday."

Tyler looked at the empty baseball diamond, at the phone in his hand where the video was already going viral with captions like BEAR MVP and RANDOM BEAR SAVES THE DAY.

"Tell Marcus I'll think about it," Tyler said, trying not to smile. "But I'm gonna need a better head. This one smells like defeat."