Snoz and Ears

Sticks and stones and all that...

As he had done often this season, Coach Travis gave 8-year-old Colton a ride home in his dilapidated pickup. The walk wasn’t far, but as long as the coach was going his way, Colton hopped in.

“How are things, Colton? Your hitting seems to be improving. You must be practicing a bit at home. You’re a pretty good catcher too. How do you feel about things?”

“Not good, Coach. All the guys are starting to call me names.”

“Names?” Coach Travis asked. “Like what?”

“They’re starting to call me Ears.”

“Yeah, I guess I’ve heard ‘em. Don’t like it, huh?”

Colton shook his head.

“Understand. Maybe they’re jealous.”

“Jealous? Of what?” Colton asked.

“Well, not everyone is blessed with big ears.”

“They’re not big. It’s just that they get big when I pull the ball cap down, like this.”

The Coach looked over as Colton pulled his hat down.

“I see what you mean. I wouldn’t worry about it. They’re just having fun, that’s all.”

Colton started crying, “I know they are, but I still don’t like it, Coach.”

“I hear ya, Buddy, I hear ya. Reminds me of me when I was your age.”

“Hmm? What do you mean?” asked Colton.

“Any ideas what my teammates called me?”

Colton looked over at his coach. It was hard to imagine anyone calling him names.

“No.”

Coach Travis said, “Snoz” as he pointed to his nose. “Seems regular now, but when I was 8, it was huge.”

“Did you fight ‘em?”

“Fight ‘em? Naaa. Just accepted it and laughed with them. The guys want you to get mad, Colton. When you laugh with ‘em, you take away their ammo, so to speak. Make sense?”

“Mmm hmm. I guess so.”

“Well, Colton, here we are. Don’t take it personally.”

“Okay.”

Just as he shut the passenger door, Colton said through the window, “Snoz, huh?”

“Yep. Snoz.”

“Thanks for the ride, Coach,” Colton said with a smile. “Thanks for the ride.”

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