After we ate, Noah dragged me towards the batting cages . Right before going through the double doors that led outside to the cages, there was a long counter, filled with baseball memorabilia .
"The cages are token operated . " Noah explained while getting some cash out . "One token for one dollar . Each token gets you twelve pitches from whichever machine you would like . " He handed a twenty to the lady behind the counter . "Twenty tokens please . "
"Sure thing . " The lady counted out twenty tokens and pushed them towards us . "Do you need any helmets, bats, or batting gloves? We can rent them out for a few dollars . " She waved her hand towards a wall that had everything you would need to use the batting cages: helmets, batting gloves of multiple sizes, and all kinds of bats .
I took a few steps towards the bats, examining what she had . I don't know much about bats except that there are weight and length restrictions for different age groups .
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"Come on Jake . I have bats for us to use . We can share my helmet and gloves for now . No need to waste money . " Noah tried to rush me .
But I wasn't interested in his bats . They were aluminum like my old one . The one my mom used to beat me . What caught my attention was the wooden bats that were also grouped there .
I lifted one, a little unsure of what to expect . The weight was the same as my old bat but somehow it felt heavier . Solid . I held it like I was setting up in the righty's box and took a slow practice swing .
"Please don't swing bats inside . " The lady called out .
I jumped and accidentally dropped the bat .
"Sorry, he didn't know! I didn't get to tell him yet . " Noah apologized for me as he picked up the wooden bat . He looked at my guilt stricken face . "Don't worry, you're not in trouble . She just doesn't want us accidentally breaking other merchandise . Do you want to use this bat? It's wood . The ball wont go very far . " He thought a bit then shrugged . "Well it's just the cages so it's not like it could go far anyways . "
He took the bat to the counter . "My friend would like to use this . How much would it be to rent it?"
The lady flipped the bat to the end of the barrel where a sticker said 'for sale only' with a $60 next to it . "Wooden bats are easier to break in the cages . "
"No way . Sixty dollars? That's too much! And it even looks used already . " Noah protested .
"It's a MLB prime maple Louisville slugger . It's original cost is easily over one hundred dollars . We cut the cost since it's a return item . " An older man came from behind us . "It's a good bat . Hard to break or chip . Even some professionals would use it . "
"Even more reason to just let us borrow it . " Noah countered, facing the old man . "C'mon boss . We're just lowly freshmen . . . how could we break a bat that even professionals trust?"
The old man smiled and patted Noah's head . "So relentless . Definitely an Atkins boy . " So they knew each other? "Fine, ten dollar rental fee . If you break it, you buy it . The full sixty . "
Noah happily slapped a ten dollar bill on the counter . "Thanks boss . We're just having fun anyways . Stop worrying so much . "
The old man just shook his head and walked away .
"That's the boss . " Noah told me as he put the wooden bat in my hands . "He runs this place so we see him frequently . My brothers say he use to be a pro way back when . "
My eyes widened . That frail old man use to be a pro?
"Let's go see what you can do with the bat . Maybe we can convince mom to buy it if you like it . " He threw an arm around my shoulders, pushing me towards the doors .
Chapter end
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