Renewed Hope.

The smell of the freshly cut grass and summer evening air filled his senses as he sat on an old wooden bench, looking out over the abandoned baseball diamond. He could see weeds pushing their way through the cracked dirt of the field. He'd never played on the field growing up, but he'd heard stories of dad and his dad's buddies always playing on it, that is until the war started. After the war had come, the field had remained empty, never to be played on again.
There were some children that strayed into the abandoned field. Some were young, too young to play a game seriously. Others that visited thought they were too old to join in a game they thought too childish. The war not only changed the people, but also the town it's self. The old ball park wasn't the only thing left to time. The old ice cream shop closed down when the draft started. The older children had to stay home or go to work with the women. Factories struggled to stay open. They relied on the work of the women left behind by the husbands going to war.
A cool breeze blew across the field causing the overgrown grass to sway. Looking up he saw a small child climb over the fence. With out warning other voices could be heard. The child ran to the forgotten bleachers and hid under a broken bench. Pain chips fell into her hair while she scrambled to hide. As soon as she was hidden, several older boys rushed onto the field. Some had sticks but most of them wore a look of hate on their faces. The oldest boy called out for the girl. He started calling her a traitor to this country and her father. Soon several others joined in. Name calling started but one name stuck out, “Daughter of an Asian whore”. Her father was a butcher in the town. He married a woman from Japan several years back and brought her to live with him and his family. The little girl was their only child.
After several minute of name calling the group of boys left the ball park. He waited for the little girl to reappear from behind the broken bench but nothing moved. He picked up an old tattered baseball and rolled it into the bleachers. Finally the little girl appeared. Tear stains were present on her face but she did her best to smile. Times like this weren't easy for people like her. Not only was she seen as a half breed but as the enemy. No one was safe from torment during the war.
As the little girl approached him he noticed a dog tag around her neck. It had the name of a general stamped on it. When the little girl noticed he was looking at the dog tag, she quickly tucked it under the tattered dress she was wearing. She quietly handed him the ball. He rolled it once more. She ran after the bal and brought it back to him. This time she carried a bat. As they started to play, other children her age appeared. They showed no signs of hate towared her. Only intrested in the game they were watching.
Soon the children joined in. They begain taking turns hitting the ball and running after it. The next day more children came. The ball park was cleaned up and a team was started. The baseball fieled not only brought back the love for the game, but also the enjoyment of others. Even durring uncertain times, children were able to find a place to just be themselves.