Since she was four years old, Hallie Thorne loved baseball. She was a natural pitcher and batter. Every day, she'd practice throwing tennis balls at target markers and swing her bat in the garden.

In the Little League Junior Baseball, Hallie was the best player and is the only girl in her team. Everyone loved her for what she does. But her life was not all gold and glitters. Her parents have divorced three months ago after suffering financial ruin. Hallie prayed for this. She hates her father very much. Her mother is a doctor who works at the hospital. She is loving, but away a lot. Grandpa and Grandma look after their granddaughters until Mom comes home.

Melody is her six year old sister. She is a crybaby, but has a good heart. She misses Daddy very much. She was lonely enough to start talking to her imaginary friends. Hallie constantly squabbles with Melody and loses patience a lot. It seems nothing could make them a family.

Tonight's baseball game is going to be a good one.

"Alright, Hallie, you're up." Coach Beck told her, smacking his hands together.

Hallie Thorne stood up from the bench as she picked up her bat. She quietly walked out in the field and took her position as the Blue Beater's batter.

The Red Riders team are arranged out in the field. They are arrogant and total snobs. They've been champions three years in a row and their Coach loves to rub it in.

The eight male members of Hallie's team watched her from behind the gates. They looked tired and anxious, as they expect to lose the championship final.

Families and friends connected to both teams are watching them out in the baseball field. Among the crowd, Hallie can see her mother and little sister Melody sitting out in the stands. They were cheering her on. This makes Hallie smile every time.

Mom cupped her hands around her mouth and shouts: "Come on, Hallie! You can do it! Kick their backsides!"

Melody is waving shyly at Hallie. She has blonde hair with a hairband and is up to her older sister's chest in height. She wears overalls over her orange-white striped t-shirt and white shoes. She carries an old teddy bear called Mr Snuggles wherever she goes, even to bed.

"Get your act together, Hallie!" Coach Beck told her sternly.

Hallie did what she was told and focused on the rival pitcher.

The score is 6-6 on the scoreboard.

If Hallie wins this point, then she and her team will go down as heroes and make everyone they love proud.

The pitcher boy stands on the mound, looking at Hallie with the same focus they share.

"Hey, girl!" taunted the boy catcher who is squatting behind Hallie. "Why are you on the boys team? Are you confused or just stupid?"

Hallie ignored him. She took a deep breath as she positioned her arms to swing.

The pitcher pushes off the plate with his foot, gaining velocity and leverage as he threw the ball toward the home plate where Hallie is standing. She tightens her grip on the bat and starts deliberately missing the ball.

"Strike one!" Coach Morris called, displaying one finger.

The Red Riders players were laughing at her, including their coach who counts her strikes.

"Strike two!"

"What are you doing?" Coach Beck asked her with a low hiss.

Hallie wants the game to be intense because she wanted the pitcher to get overconfident and lose his focus. What she didn't expect is to go out with a bang.

As soon as the pitcher threw the ball for the third time, Hallie swung the bat and hits hard.

BOOM!

The baseball soared toward the skies as it goes beyond the fence and out in the street. Every single person in the field was absolutely dumbstruck at what they just witnessed.

Hallie immediately ran toward the first base, dropping her bat and throwing her helmet off. It was the first time she ever hit a grand slam, which is rare and popular in baseball history.

Suddenly, the audience cheered and clapped loudly for their coming victory and chanted for her name.

Gasping for breath, Hallie has run around the three bases until she made it to the home plate.

"Give it up for our lucky star, Hallie Thorne!" the speaker announced.

The Blue Beaters came running out toward Hallie and huddled excitedly around her.

Coach Beck told the boys to break it up and give their best player air. He proudly shook Hallie's hand. "Way to go, kiddo." he said, with a brief grin. He rarely smiles.

"Thank you, sir." Hallie said cheerfully.

The Red Riders gave Hallie and her team dirty looks for their loss. Some of them threw their helmets on the ground out of frustration. They couldn't believe a girl had beaten them.

Her school's baseball team has won the championship against the Red Riders' school. The trophy was added to the school's sports collection displayed in the hallway. Hallie was awarded with a gold medal for her victory, including her teammates who never looked so happy.

It was a victory that she will never forget.

Later…

Mom was driving her green Toyota Corolla car through the old neighbourhood to reach her parents' house. They couldn't make it to Hallie's baseball match because they needed rest. Mom and her daughters had to get away from the overexcited crowd at school.

Hallie was sitting in the backseat with Melody, admiring her medal around her neck. She never felt so proud of herself. All that practice has paid off. No one will doubt her skills now. She was thinking of many plans to celebrate. But the mood is spoiled when Hallie heard a familiar, annoying sound.

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

"Oh, great!" Hallie sighed.

It was her mother's pager. She is a doctor. SHe has to work another night shift again at the hospital. It looks like the dinner party is cancelled.

Mom parked the vehicle in front of Grandpa and Grandma's house as she slows to a halt. Following the old routine, Hallie steps out of the vehicle and angrily slammed the door shut.

"Mommy, can't you stay for dinner?" Melody whined. She was already outside to face Mom who is inside the car.

"Not now, Melody. I have to work." Mom said regretfully.

"When are you coming back?" Melody asked innocently.

Mom took Melody into her arms through the window and they hugged each other lovingly. "Tomorrow morning. I promise, sweetheart. Until then, Hallie will take care of you."

Hallie recalled memories of the times her mother had missed out on her 12th birthday, Melody's 6th and other celebrations that Mom couldn't make it to because the hospital demand her expertise. How many more promises is she going to break for the same old excuse?

Hallie scoffs at this in disgust. "You can't stop working for 10 minutes to spend time with your own family?" she asked angrily.

Shocked, Mom turned to face her oldest daughter. "What did you say, Hallie?" she asked.

"It's not fair." Hallie told her.

"Hallie!" Mom snapped out of anger. "Stop being selfish."

"I am not!" Hallie shouted. "When was the last you cared about me and Melody?"

Mom was already frustrated and weary with her daughter's disobedience. "You're just as stubborn and foolish as your father." she huffed.

"Don't compare me to him, Mom!" Hallie said bitterly. "He's such a jerk."

"Keep it down, Hallie!" Mom hissed, looking around. "The neighbours can hear you."

"Let them hear. I don't care!" Hallie shouted, throwing her arms up.

Mom gave up the argument when she stopped to stare at the house. Grandpa and Grandma had come outside, wondering what the commotion was all about.

Mr Higgins's dog was barking next door. It was a surprise he didn't come out of his house to complain about the noise. Mr Higgins was probably used to hearing Hallie and Melody argue all the time so he chose to ignore them.

Hallie couldn't help but feel she was acting like brat. Melody was the only good girl around. She knew better that to get involved in an argument or start one.

Mom turned the car keys to start it up. "We'll talk about this later, young lady." She revved the engines and drove out of the neighbourhood to reach the hospital.

That was probably the last time Mom ever spoke to Hallie. No hug, no goodbye; just a bitter argument that left both of them in silence.