I don't think that's how it works

[mattdantodd]

I had to leave Aiden's game just a few minutes early Wednesday night because of a leadership meeting at church. Before I left, I went over to talk to one of Aiden's friends. He's been struggling at the plate recently and I heard him tell his dad, "I can't do it."

Nevermind that he'd hit the ball several times in previous games.


So I went over to him and told him I had to leave. I shot him a big smile and said, "When I get home, I want Aiden to tell me that you got a hit the next time you were up to bat."

He looked at me, then turned to Aiden and said, "Just tell him I hit it."

I laughed and told him that I'd ask Aiden's mom, too. He froze for a minute. Then he said, "What happens if I don't hit it?"

"It doesn't matter what's going to happen - because you're going to hit the ball." I was trying to help restore his confidence. It had worked once that night with another kid on the team. And I got goosebumps all over my body when he hit the ball. It was a pretty cool thing.

Aiden's friend thought for a minute and said, "I know what. If I don't hit the ball, you owe me a thousand dollars."

That's not quite how the whole thing is supposed to work. But you gotta hand it to him. At least he was thinking.