Warming Up

by Michael Dylan Welch and Alan S. Bridges

First published in Mariposa #50, Spring/Summer 2024, page 28. Originally written 14 June 2023 at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, Washington, in section 124, row 39, seats 6, 7, and 8 (we left seat 7 empty between us). The people behind us, on seeing all the notes we were writing (using a stylus on my phone) mistook us for baseball scouts! They were from White Rock, British Columbia (where my mother used to live), got a bit drunk, and insisted on hugging us goodbye after we read them our rengay when the game was over. The video highlights include a superb Marlins catch near the end that robbed Seattle of a walk-off grand slam. See also “Taking the Field.”

Miami Marlins 4

Seattle Mariners 1

cancer research night—

the outfield

freshly mowed Michael

ceremonial first pitch

nobody watches Alan

flags waving . . .

the starting lineup

announced to cheers Michael

warmups

a touch of sweat

on the hot dogs Alan

a kids’ choir belts out

the national anthem Michael

fixed glare

one last whack

on the rosin bag       Alan