October 10, 1945: Philadelphia, PA
"Can you feel it, Bob?"
Bobby Barrell was lacing up his left cleat when he heard the voice. It sounded like the writer, Johnny Bologna. But Bologna wouldn't be here; the clubhouse was closed to the press while the Keystones prepared to take the field for the sixth game of the 1945 World Championship Series.
Bobby lifted his head, trying to locate the source of the voice. It came from behind him. "I said, can you feel it?" the voice spoke up again.
"Bologna? How did you sneak in here?" he asked, spinning on his stool.
Grinning mischievously like a cat that had just devoured a canary stood Billy Woytek, the second baseman. Known for his expert mimicry, Woytek had apparently added the sportswriter to his repertoire.
"You're worse than my brother Harry, I swear, Bill," Bobby shook his head, expressing his amusement. "And that's saying something."
Woytek, having rejoined the Keystones in early September after serving in the Navy during the 1942, 43, and 44 seasons, chuckled and replied, "My question still stands, Bob."
"What question?" Bobby inquired, puzzled.
"Can you..." Billy leaned in and whispered, "feel it?"
"Feel what?" Bobby asked, his exasperation growing.
"We're going to win this thing today," Woytek confidently declared.
Bobby raised his eyebrows skeptically and responded, "Nothing's guaranteed. Don't you ever get nervous?"
Woytek shook his head and, in a pitch-perfect imitation of FDR, solemnly said, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself!"
Chuckling to himself, Woytek walked away while Bobby pursed his lips, watching his teammate's retreating back. The guy really was worse than Harry.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Meanwhile, in the visitor's clubhouse, Deuce Barrell sat in his undershirt, pants, and socks. He wasn't pitching; that duty belonged to Dan Adams for game six, as Deuce had pitched in game four three days earlier.
"Still too lazy to get dressed early?" Deuce heard a familiar voice mock him.
He turned around abruptly and stood up. "Charley!" he shouted, pulling his teammate, best friend, and brother-in-law into a bear hug. "You're back!"
"Obviously," Charley McCullough dryly noted. "Come on, let go of me, you galoot," he said a moment later.
"What are you doing here?" Deuce asked, elated.
"I'm part of this team, aren't I?" Charley replied.
Deuce tilted his head, puzzled, and asked, "But aren't you still in the Navy?"
"Nope, got my discharge papers right here," Charley replied, tapping his coat pocket.
"Why am I just hearing this now?" Deuce asked, feeling slightly affronted.
"Aww, don't get bent out of shape, Deuce. I wanted to surprise Gloria," Charley said with a smirk. "And I knew if you knew, you'd blab. You couldn't keep a secret from your sister if your life depended on it."
"We're twins, Charley."
Charley shrugged, changing the subject. "So, the team has won this thing the last two years without me. Heck, they won last year without you too."
"Yep, they sure did," Deuce interjected.
"So why does it look like we're not going to win this year?" Charley inquired.
Leaning in as if about to disclose a great secret, Deuce replied, "It's simple. They have Uncle Bob, and we don't."
Charley let out a derisive noise. "Bobby Barrell is good, but come on, Deuce."
Deuce shook his head. "No, you don't understand. He's been dominating us throughout the entire series."
Charley frowned and remarked, "Well, you guys better win today, that's all I'm saying." He patted Deuce on the shoulder. "Now I'm going to see my wife."
Deuce smiled and said, "She's sitting with our grandparents and my brother."
"Roger? Is he back from the Marines?" Charley inquired.
"No, not Roger. The kid... Charlie," Deuce replied.
Charley rubbed his head and said, "Oh yeah, I forgot about him. The kid with the movie star mother, right?"
"That's the one," Deuce confirmed.
Charley smirked mischievously and said, "So, if your old man had kids with three different women..."
Deuce put his hand on his friend's chest. "Stop right there. I have a girlfriend," he said.
"It's about time," Charley replied, then turned and walked off, leaving Deuce standing there with an insulted look on his face.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
At that moment out in the grandstand, Charlie Barrell was receiving some unwanted advice from his grandfather.
"Charlie, there's more to life than sports," Rufus told his grandson. He had received reports from Dan, who provided a home for Charlie while the boy attended Capital Academy in D.C. Charlie was a mediocre student, just like his father, but excelled as an athlete, much like his father.
"Don't worry about me, Gramps," Charlie boldly replied. "I've got options," he added confidently.
"Options?" Alice Barrell interjected. "What do you mean by that?"
"I play baseball, basketball, and football, and I'm great at all of them. Coach Wilson said I can have my pick," the boy explained.
Rufus wasn't pleased about this. Charlie had turned 15 during the summer and was now a sophomore. The football coach had filled the boy's head with nonsense about a bidding war between different sports.
"Don't pay attention to empty praise; it won't help you improve. Find someone who can offer constructive criticism," Rufus advised him. Charlie reminded Rufus too much of Joe, a sentiment shared by Dan, who saw the boy daily. Rufus had spent a considerable amount of time with Charlie while working with the Eagles, but that chapter was coming to an end. He expected Captain Stockdale to take over the club before spring training began.
"Criticism? I don't want to hear that nonsense. I scored four touchdowns on Friday," Charlie told his grandfather.
Alice wore a scowl that Rufus knew all too well. "Someone needs to give you a good scolding," she said sternly to Charlie.
The boy's eyes widened, and wisely, he remained silent.
Gloria, sitting beside Charlie, chimed in, "They're right. Don't get complacent with accolades; always strive to improve."
Charlie rolled his eyes. "Oh, not you too!" he moaned. He genuinely liked Gloria; she was his favorite sibling, even though he also cherished his bond with Deuce. Although he had never met Roger, he often boasted at school about having a Marine brother who valiantly fought the Japanese.
Gloria changed the subject, asking, "So, why are they calling you the 'Heartbreak Kid'? What's that about?"
Charlie slumped in his seat. "Oh, that..." he mumbled.
Gloria grabbed his chin and made him look at her. "Yes, that," she insisted.
"Well... there are these two girls. Somehow, they both got the idea that I'm their boyfriend," Charlie confessed, speaking quietly as he sensed Rufus listening attentively beside him. "And, uh, maybe I told them that," he admitted.
"Both of them?" Gloria asked skeptically, raising an eyebrow.
Gloria shook her head. "And who started calling you the 'Heartbreak Kid'?"
"Uncle Dan. He got phone calls from both girls' mothers," Charlie revealed.
Gloria shook her head. The kid was undeniably good-looking, even in her sisterly eyes. He was also a talented athlete. No wonder he didn't want to put in any effort. Everything seemed to be handed to him. She was about to respond when someone covered her eyes with their hands, and she heard a familiar voice say, "Guess who?"
"Charley!" she exclaimed, jumping to her feet and embracing her husband with kisses and hugs. The surrounding crowd began buzzing, and eventually, they pulled apart, leaving Gloria feeling somewhat embarrassed. Others in the crowd recognized Charley, and he was soon asked for autographs. The other Charlie—her brother—watched it all with a smirk on his face.
Gloria couldn't believe it. Her husband was finally back, having survived the war despite voluntarily signing up for combat duty and serving on a destroyer. She was overjoyed, and even the Keystones' victory over the Cannons with a score of 7-3 (Bobby hit his fifth home run of the series) and their championship win couldn't dampen her gratitude and euphoria at having Charley home.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Charlie Barrell - "The Heartbreak Kid" - at age 3 with his parents Joe Barrell and the actress Dorothy Bates, circa 1933
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------