Power Pros Forum

Jet Black ~ How it came to be...

There was an open book lying on the kitchen table. It was a brown, hard covered, but basically destroyed thing. Jet approached it quietly, trying not to disturb his mother. However, he broke the odd silence. “Wow! This book is amazing! Did you write it, Mom?!” Jet asked. He was a short teenager, with jet black hair.

His mother turned to him with a smile on her face, “No, honey, I didn’t write that. It is, well it was your father’s.” She tried to hold back the tears that were building up, but failed. Jet lost his father in a car accident when he was thirteen, and didn’t spend much time with him during the living years.

“It is okay, Mom. Can you tell me why this was open though? It isn’t like you to read old books; you usually go for newer books.” Jet announced, providing comfort, but remaining serious. He moved his head down and read more of the book as his mother wiped away her tears with a dish towel.

This is what he read:

“My parents told me to keep a journal of all my accomplishments, well; my step-mother did anyway. She was always there for me when my father couldn’t be. Oh how I miss her and my mother. They were nice, but died from the same disease: Lung Cancer. At that time in my life I was a semi-decent baseball player in the Red Sox Organization. Triple-A ball was one of the best experiences of my life, but I abandoned my hopes and dreams of becoming a pro to become a Cardiothoracic Surgeon. I wanted to be at the frontline of research to combat this killer.

Hopefully, one day, I get to have a kid who can carry out and fulfill my dreams of becoming a major leaguer, not by my choice, but of his own free will. It will make me happy, and my life complete…”

Jet let a tear slip, watching as it fell down and hit the book. “Mom… I know why you were reading this… you want me to fulfill dad’s dream, don’t you?” Jet asked. He looked up at his mother with puppy dog eyes. “I always liked ball growing up, but to consider becoming pro… I don’t know? I’m on the high school team right now. I’m sure I can get noticed, it is what dad wants—“ Jet was cut off immediately, his mother but in.

“No! Jet! I don’t want to force you into anything! That’s not what I wanted to accomplice!” His mother shouted at the top of her lungs. “If you want to become a major leaguer, do it on your own free will, not mine, or your father’s!” She turned back to the oven, rather upset.

“Mom, I didn’t mean to upset you sorry…” Jet said under his breath. He turned away, with the book in hand, heading back to his room in the small apartment in San Francisco.

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Uh, sorry about the length. I didn't mean for it to be that big! I started writing, and couldn't stop.

Lol keep going man, be creative all the way!!

Thanks. I should have the second part posted by tonight.

Does he have any relation to Jack Black?

No he doesn't, sorry.

That would've been cool, but it doesn't matter. I'm following.

Jet sat down in front of his desk. He didn’t recall his father telling him he made it to Triple A for the Socks. “Why wouldn’t dad tell me something like this? It isn’t like him…” Jet said to himself. He booted the computer up and turned his head to read more of the book his father left him? He felt that it was a book fore-telling his accomplishments.

There was some blue ink on the corner of the page. It caught Jet’s attention, thus he read this first:

“C’mon, Black, put some juice into that pitch!” Coach Johnson shouted at Shawn Black. He watched as his to-be star pitcher was warming up, “Remember now, Black, you have to put the ball down the middle… the Sox want to see you ready to perform at big league level at anytime…” Johnson turned around and nodded at a guy dressed in red and blue.

He nodded his head in agreement, and then Shawn went in to a windup. He brought both of his arms up above his head, and then brought them down to his chest again. His face turned red, and it looked like he was about to burst as he brought his right arm back behind his head. He launched his arm forward, and about midway into the process he released the white ball with red laces.

“…” Seconds felt like hours as the ball set off towards the catcher. No one said a word, they just looked in awe. The catcher, a short and stubby player dubbed “Bubba” was about to be on the receiving end of what seemed like a torpedo.

“POW!”

The loud sound echoed throughout the training center of the Pawtucket Sox. “Are you crazy Black?! Are you trying to kill me?” Bubba shouted out. He removed his glove and immediately took off for the dugout, ready to ice his left hand that took a serious beating from the fastball.

Coach Johnson however turned his head back to the figure dressed in red and blue.
“What was the speed?” He asked. The guy immediately piped up, not wanting to lose his job.

“One-hundred and three miles per hour, Coach.” The scrawny figure said. He smiled up at the pitcher’s mound. “Shawn, you got quite the fastball… I didn’t think we’d see a guy with such a heater.”

Coach Johnson interrupted Michael. “Michael thanks for everything today. I’ve got some business to discuss with the future of this team, and hopefully, the Red Sox.” Johnson said as he walked up to the mound. He began to whisper to his star player, “Listen Black, you’re very good at what you do. We need to work on your control and posture a bit. I do, however, believe you’re ready for the majors.”

Shawn shouted out at the top of his lungs, “Great! I’m going to be on the Red Sox?!” He was rather excited, as anyone would be in this position… playing for the Red Sox, one of the best teams right now… an honor. Coach Johnson walked away from the mound, looking rather disgusted. He didn’t want to give false hope to this player, like he had done for so many others. Shawn walked back to the dugout where he got a call that would change his life forever…

Meanwhile, in the small San Francisco apartment, Jet was asleep. What he saw was merely a dream of what he believed his father could have done. If the lazy fool didn’t fall asleep, you probably would have known what was written in the book. The hero had a smile from ear to ear on his face. He was proud of something, because he knew what was going to happen. He had the number of a professional scout in his reach; all he has to do now is call it.

wow, nice job!

For those of you who are lost in the format, I'm trying not to do diary style entries, but instead story type ones. Basically, I'm telling Jet's story as if I saw it all with my own eyes.

It's a third person story, a diary entry like thing would be first person. That's one way to say it, DrK.

My mind isn't functioning correctly, so I would have never thought of that.

great job. i'll follow.

Sorry about going so fast, but I want to get to the point where I can start MyLife with him, since I'm almost done with Success Mode. I will not be posting his password though, sorry.

Without further a do, I bring you Chapter Three of Jet Black ~ A Journey to the Hall of Fame:

Jet awoke from his dream only to find himself covered in what appeared to be his own saliva. He wanted to scream, the water felt like it was moving down places he never knew existed – it didn’t feel too good. “Uh… I should really invest in a “Saliva Guard” or something.” Jet said sarcastically. He noticed that his computer was already booted up. What surprised him was what he saw. He didn’t search anything, but the Triple-A Player’s Index was already open. He moved his hand to his mouse, and clicked a few links, and even tried typing in his father’s name – nothing worked.

Meanwhile downstairs, Jet’s beloved mother was getting hit pretty hard. She was on the phone with an old friend of Shawn, his nickname was Bubba. “Alright, Bubba, I know, I know… I’ll try to motivate Jet to go down and play a game or two tonight, alright?” She said into the phone. A voice responded back, it was deep and masculine:

“Thanks, Sheryl. I’m sure Shawn would want to know his son is going to be a big star. I’ll even make sure Michael sees what this kid can do.”

Sheryl hung up the phone. She pressed it against her chest. “Shawn… your dream will be fulfilled soon.” She smiled as she looked up at the white ceiling. She then parted her lips and cleared her throat:

“Jet! Get down here! I got some good news! An old friend of your father wants to watch you play ball with some of his friends. They think dad would like that!”

Jet heard his mother in the background, but ignored her. He was too busy trying to find information on his father. “I really need a faster connecti-“ Jet said, but stopped halfway through the word ‘connection’. He slammed his small arms up against the computer desk and went down stairs furious. “Mother! The Internet is out again!” Jet shouted, only he didn’t find his mother in the kitchen. She could hear him though, he just knew it… the apartment wasn’t that big.

“I know honey, I called your name but you didn’t come. I need you to go down to the park tonight. Some of dad’s friends want to play a game with you…” She replied sweetly to her precious child. A smile from ear to ear was on Jet’s face.

“Dad’s friends? You mean from Triple-A? I’d love to! I’ll go right now and wait for them!” Jet shouted. He didn’t even say goodbye to his mother as he ran out the door, grabbing his bat bag of course though, but that was near the front door anyway.
On the way to the park, Jet stopped at a payphone.

He inserted a quarter and dialed the number which was in his father’s book. He waited for an answer, but he got that dreaded auto-answer:

“This number is no longer in service.”

Jet sighed and placed the phone back into its holder again, and continued on his way to the friendly game with his father’s old friends.

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Thanks for all the positive feedback so far. If you want to give me some tips on the initial writing, or give me a character to add go ahead. I'm swaying away from the normal MyLife Story, just so you know. Which means there will be tons of room for creativity from my end and your's!

Did everyone stop following?

Naw, don't worry. People will read, but they won't post. It's happened with all of the other logs I think...

Anyway, looks good! I'll follow.