What would you do?

[Omie]

What would you do?....you make the choice. Don't look for a punch line,
there isn't one. Read it anyway. My question is: Would you have made
the same choice?



At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning
disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that
would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the
school and its

Dedicated staff, he offered a question:

'When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature
does, is done with perfection.

Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot
understand things as other children do.

Where is the natural order of things in my son?'



The audience was stilled by the query.



The father continued. 'I believe that when a child like Shay, who was
mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity
to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way
other people treat that child.'

Then he told the following story:



Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were
playing baseball. Shay asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?' I
knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their
team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to
play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some
confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.



I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting
much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance 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
inning..'



Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on
a team shirt.. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my
heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but
was still behind by three.

In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the
right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously
ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to
ear as I waved to him from the stands.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again.

Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was
on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.



At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to
win the game?

Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all
but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat
properly, much less connect with the ball.



However, as Shay stepped up to the

Plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning
aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the
ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact.

The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed.

The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly
towards Shay.

As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball
right back to the pitcher.



The game would now be over.

The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown
the ball to the first baseman.

Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.



Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's
head, out of reach of all team mates.

Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to
first!

Run to first!'

Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first
base.

He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.



Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!'

Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and
struggling to make it to the base.

By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the
ball . The smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to
be the hero for his team.

He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he
understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the
ball high and far over the third-baseman's head.

Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him
circled the bases toward home.



All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay'



Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him
by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to
third!

Shay, run to third!'



As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators,
were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!'

Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who
hit the grand slam and won the game for his team



'That day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his
face, 'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and
humanity into this world'.



Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having
never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home
and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!

[hitman619]

Dude You can't post sad stories like this
I probably would have stuck shay out.
That's me and how i'm built.

[lowbrow]

Yeah... while I'll say I'm lucky enough to know a handful of individuals diagnosed with Autism, and went through grades 1 - 12 in a small school and played hockey with one individual. If it was a non-competitive game, I would have let Shay play, but selfishness is the human condition, so my pride may have gotten the better of me if something was on the line But from my own personal experience, small settings (small town, small school, ect.) where people know everyone, seems to be more conducive to the above stories treatment of those who are disabled. However, that may just be a stereotype I have in my own mind.

[Draconius]

I would have balled my damn eyes out after hearing that!

If I was on the team, I would feel proud of everyone on that field for doing that!

Such a touching effing moment!!!

[Zackk]

You see, I can't read it. My fiance's little sister died around xmas, and her name was Shay.

[azn_redneck]

Great, thanks for making me cry.

I wouldn't ever be in that situation because Shay was probably a better baseball player than I am, ergo I wouldn't be allowed anywhere near the field.

[LABARINTH]

I think I would have done exactly what the first team did...let him on and let him play. If I was the pitcher on the opposing team I am not sure what I would have done. I might have thrown it easier but not necessarily lobed it to him.

[Omie]

You see, I can't read it. My fiance's little sister died around xmas, and her name was Shay.

i'm sorry bro

[jaymar88]

Man. I'm sitting here all balled up. As a father, I could put myself in his shoes. Its the ultimate truth that you cannot understand true love until you have a child that is wholly dependent on you. Thanks for sharing and providing some needed perspective.

[Omie]

anything for you jay

[NOPD]

damn touching story, i probably would have been in tears if i had a kid.

[Tobra]

I would have gone to the beanball.




seriously though, touching story

[Nightshade]

Fucking allergies