At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one student extolled the dedicated staff, then said: "I believe that when a child like Shay comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself."
Then he told this story: Shay and his father had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball.
"Do you think they'll let me play?" Shay asked.
Shay's father knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but he also understood that if his son were allowed to play, it would give him a much needed sense of belonging. Shay's father approached one of the boys on the field and asked if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and, getting none, he took matters into his own hands and said, "We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth."
In the bottom of the eighth, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. At the top of the ninth, Shay put on a glove and played in the outfield.
Even though no hits came his way, he was grinning from ear to ear, clearly ecstatic just to be in the game. In the bottom of the ninth, Shay's team scored again. With two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base.
Shay was next up, and surprisingly, he was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball. But as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher moved a few steps closer and lobbed the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact.
Shay swung clumsily at that first pitch and missed. Again, the pitcher took a few steps forward to toss the ball in softly. As it came in, Shay swung and hit a low ground ball right back to the pitcher.
The pitcher could have easily got Shay out at first base, and it would have been the end of the game. Instead, he threw the ball on a high arc to right field, far beyond the reach of the first baseman. Everyone started yelling: "Shay, run to first! Run to first!" Shay scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.
The right fielder, who could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, intentionally threw it high over the third-baseman's head.
The crowd urged Shay: "Run to second, run to second!"
Meanwhile the runners ahead of Shay pounded home.
The opposing shortstop turned Shay in the direction of third base. Once he touched the base, members of both teams cheered him home.
Shay stepped triumphantly on the plate, and was hailed as the hero who hit the "grand slam" and won the game for his team.
"That day," said the father softly with tears rolling down his face, "the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world."
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Then he told this story: Shay and his father had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball.
"Do you think they'll let me play?" Shay asked.
Shay's father knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but he also understood that if his son were allowed to play, it would give him a much needed sense of belonging. Shay's father approached one of the boys on the field and asked if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and, getting none, he took matters into his own hands and said, "We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth."
In the bottom of the eighth, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. At the top of the ninth, Shay put on a glove and played in the outfield.
Even though no hits came his way, he was grinning from ear to ear, clearly ecstatic just to be in the game. In the bottom of the ninth, Shay's team scored again. With two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base.
Shay was next up, and surprisingly, he was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball. But as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher moved a few steps closer and lobbed the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact.
Shay swung clumsily at that first pitch and missed. Again, the pitcher took a few steps forward to toss the ball in softly. As it came in, Shay swung and hit a low ground ball right back to the pitcher.
The pitcher could have easily got Shay out at first base, and it would have been the end of the game. Instead, he threw the ball on a high arc to right field, far beyond the reach of the first baseman. Everyone started yelling: "Shay, run to first! Run to first!" Shay scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.
The right fielder, who could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, intentionally threw it high over the third-baseman's head.
The crowd urged Shay: "Run to second, run to second!"
Meanwhile the runners ahead of Shay pounded home.
The opposing shortstop turned Shay in the direction of third base. Once he touched the base, members of both teams cheered him home.
Shay stepped triumphantly on the plate, and was hailed as the hero who hit the "grand slam" and won the game for his team.
"That day," said the father softly with tears rolling down his face, "the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world."
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