During a lazy summer’s afternoon, Billy sits on the aluminum bleachers at his friend Jeff’s baseball game, his phone resting loosely in his hands.

Sometimes he watches the game. Other times, he disappears into his phone. Neither holds his attention for long.

The game on his phone used to excite him. Now it feels predictable. He knows every move. Every outcome. Win or lose, nothing really changes.

Jeff taps his shoe with the bat, clearing his cleats, and steps back into the batter’s box.

Billy looks up as he hears a man shout from the bench, “Three balls, one strike. You can do it, Jeffrey.”

He lowers his phone and scans the scoreboard.

The bases are loaded. Two outs. Last inning. Jeff’s team is down by two runs. To win, everyone on base has to make it home.

Billy leans forward.

He feels the pressure before Jeff does. In the next few seconds, Jeff will either win or lose the game for two dozen families holding their breath in the stands.

The pitcher wipes his hands on his pants. Jeff wipes the sweat from his brow.

The pitch comes.

Jeff swings. CRACK!

The ball soars toward right field and slams into the chain-link fence, sticking for just a moment before dropping. Runners sprint. The right fielder grabs the ball and throws it in.

The ball moves fast—second base, then third.

Jeff slides.

He’s late.

Billy cringes. For a split second, it feels like everything has gone wrong.

Then the crowd erupts.

Billy realizes the runners have already crossed home plate. All three of them. The game is over. Jeff’s team has won.

Players rush the field. Teammates lift Jeff onto their shoulders. They carry him toward home plate as cheers echo across the diamond.

Billy watches, stunned.

His video game has never put him here—never asked anything of him. No one depends on him. No one’s joy or disappointment rests on what he does next.

This does.

When his mom picks him up after the game, Billy slips his phone into his pocket instead of turning it back on.

“Mom,” he says, “can you sign me up for baseball?”

She smiles. “That’s a change. What made you decide?”

Billy looks back at the field.

“In a video game, nothing changes,” he says. “But out there… on a team, everyone matters.”

Copyright 2026 by CJ Powers