Three Words, Three Strikes

Marcus stood at the plate, bat trembling in sweaty hands. The varsity **baseball** team at Lincoln High wasn't just a team—it was the top of the social **pyramid**, the golden ticket to parties where people actually knew your name.

"You got this, Marcus!" called Tyrell from the dugout. Marcus had known Tyrell since kindergarten, but now Tyrell was varsity shortsleeve and Marcus was... well, Marcus was still trying to figure out where he fit.

The pitcher wound up and released. *Strike one.*

Marcus stepped out, adjusted his helmet. His mind flashed to this morning—his **cat**, Luna, had knocked his lucky cereal spoon off the counter, then stared at him with those judgmental yellow eyes like she knew something he didn't.

*What am I even doing here?* he thought. *I'm the kid who reads comics at lunch and talks to his cat like she's a person.*

"Focus, rookie!" Coach Bennett yelled from behind the backstop.

Second pitch. *Strike two.*

The social pyramid at Lincoln High was simple: varsity athletes at the top, everyone else scattered somewhere below. Marcus had spent three years watching from the middle, never quite climbing high enough to matter, never falling low enough to be invisible.

But then he remembered something Luna had taught him: cats don't care about hierarchies. Cats just *are*.

Third pitch came—fast, outside corner. Marcus didn't think. He just swung.

*CRACK.*

The ball soared over the left fielder's head and kept going. Marcus stood frozen as it cleared the fence. First home run of his life.

"YEAH MARCUS!" Tyrell screamed, jumping over the dugout rail. "THAT'S what I'm talking about!"

As Marcus rounded third, head spinning, he realized something: the pyramid wasn't going anywhere, but maybe—just maybe—he didn't have to climb it to find his place. Sometimes you just had to swing for the fences and see where you landed.

Later that night, Luna sat on his windowsill, looking particularly pleased with herself. Marcus tossed her a treat. "You knew all along, didn't you?"