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Parker had, honestly, forgotten about the whole thing. That’s fine, right? Like, that’s understandable? Being the commissioner was hard work, okay, and the league was kind of a hot mess. He spent a lot of time and brainspace on, uh… commissioner activities. Commissioning things. Being commissioner-y. And he signed so many documents normally anyway, what was he supposed to do, read and remember all of them?
So in this case, the confirmation came as a bit of a surprise. In this case and no others. Probably.
Parker had taken a break from his important commissioner activities to grab a coffee from the shop down the street. He figured he may as well get the mail on the way back inside. “may as well get the mail on my way back inside,” he mumbled, digging his mail key out of his pocket.
It was mostly same-old same-old - ads, coupons, a student loans mailer, a friendly death threat or two. At the bottom, though, was an official looking envelope. Parker awkwardly juggled his coffee and the other mailers while he worked it open. The paper inside was official looking too.
Dear Mr. MacMillan IIIII,
Congratulations! We are writing to inform you that your adoption papers have been processed and approved by the Suffolk County Register’s Office. You are now the legal guardian of:
SCORES BASERUNNER
Thank you for your patience in this matter. If you have any questions on this matter, please call our office. We would also like to remind you of our limited-time “ADOPT ONE GET ONE HALF OFF” offer, running now through the end of the month. In addition, see the back of this paper for coupons to our local partners at Hlardees.
Wishing all the best for you and your new child,
SUFFOLK COUNTY REGISTER
Family Services Department
“Family services are our family of services.”
Parker looked up. The paper was shaking hard enough for crinkling sounds to echo through his apartment complex’s mail room. “gulp,” he said out loud.
Parker walked back to his computer. The paper was still shaking in his hands. Probably because his hands were shaking. He sat back down in his desk chair, shakily setting the letter down and then shakily typing into his search engine.
wikihow how to be a good father with steps
~
It wasn’t hard to get to Boston. He was commissioner, he could get wherever. He didn’t usually, but he could.
The game had already started by the time he got down to the dugout. That was fine - like, it wasn’t, he was wracked with guilt, but it was fine. The Flowers were at bat, and the rest of the team was watching intently. Parker cleared his throat.
More than one player suddenly stood. “Uh, Commissioner! Hi!” said Margarito Nava.
Parker shifted his weight. “uh.”
Xe rubbed at the back of xir head. “Is everything… why are you… uh…”
He cleared his throat again. “is scores baserunner, uh, in attendance.”
“Dig it.” It was the Flowers’, like, cactus guy player. That one. Parker didn’t know what he was saying, but he gestured out towards the field. Scores was on second, face intense, hands on the wheels of her chair.
“great.” Parker shifted again. “is there like. is there a supportive parents section.”
“What,” Nava said.
“Dig it.” The cactus pointed up and behind the dugout.
“great,” he repeated. “great. thanks.” He hustled back through the dugout door. “awkward,” he mumbled. “the wikihow should have warned me.”
~
There wasn’t any sort of signage marking the supportive parents’ section, but Parker found himself a seat in the general area the cactus guy had pointed to. “haha. pointed. funny,” Parker said under his breath. He was considering a bag of peanuts from the concessions stand when his phone started to buzz. It was a Sllack message, one which he should have been expecting.
The Boss
What are you doing?
Parker steeled himself.
CEO Commissioner Parker MacMillan IIIII
taking a personal day
The Boss
Who told you you get Those?
CEO Commissioner Parker MacMillan IIIII
then its a sick day
The Boss
Those aren’t Paid.
CEO Commissioner Parker MacMillan IIIII
thats fine
The Boss
This is Unacceptable.
The Boss
You have Commissioner Activities to attend to.
CEO Commissioner Parker MacMillan IIIII
my family has to come first. its important to maintain a healthy work-life balance
The Boss
What are you talking about?
CEO Commissioner Parker MacMillan IIIII
well talk about it later
She probably didn’t like that. Parker turned off his phone before he could think too hard about it.
~
“they should have like a direct path down to the dugout from the supportive parents section,” he said out loud to no one. The game had ended, and now he was trapped in the slow shuffle out with the Fans. “note to self,” he continued, “find the person in charge and suggest that.”
By the time he made it downstairs, most of the team was already showered. He located Scores and walked up. “good job out there today, uh, sport.” He hesitated, then leaned over to give her a noogie.
Just about everyone on the team was openly gawking at them. Scores didn’t seem bothered. In fact, she just beamed up at him. “Thanks Dad!”
Parker attempted to drown out the team’s mutters. This was going well - first conversation with his daughter and she had already called him dad. Most parents couldn’t say that, probably. “i know you lost, but uh… do you want me to like take you out for ice cream, or-”
“Oh, that sounds great!” Scores glanced around the locker room. “Can I bring some friends?”
“uh,” Parker said. “uh. sure.”
“Awesome, thanks Dad!” She cupped her hands to her face. “Does anybody else want to come get ice cream with my dad and I?”
There was a resounding chorus of nos, broken up only by one lone voice. “Dig it.”
Scores smiled at the, like, the cactus guy. “Sweet!” She looked back at Parker. “Let me just finish getting my stuff together and then we can go.”
She wheeled off, leaving Parker with the cactus. “do you uh.” He looked him up and down. “do you eat ice cream?”
“Dig it,” the cactus replied.
“cool,” Parker said. “cool. sounds good.”