Umbra

Umbra

From Dictionary.com:

1. Shade; shadow

2. The invariable or characteristic accompaniment or companion of a person or thing

     "Wanna play?"

     The boy nods furiously and runs out to join the others in the field playing baseball.  He has been watching for so long.  He knows he could be truly great if someone just gave him the chance. 

     "Just you," the others tell him.  "Not that....shadow."

     The looks at the dark, cloudy figure beside him.  "He goes where I go."

     The others exchange glances.  "Is he any good at ball?"

     The boy bites his lip.  "He can hold his own."

     "I guess it's alright.  Go ahead and take first."

     The boy runs to first base.  This was it, his chance to show everyone what he was capable of.  "Please don't mess this up," he said to his shadow.  The shadow shrugged silently. 

     First batter up to the plate.  He grinds his feet into the dirt and pulls the bat far back behind him.

     The first pitch.  Strike one.

     The batter pulls back again.  Ball one.

     The batter pulls back a third time.  Crack.

     The ball goes low and bounces toward first, the batter running right behind it and cathcing up.

     The boy plants his left foot on first base and crouches low to catch the first hit of the game, what will be the first out, his first of many, many outs, what will be the beginning of his long and successful baseball career.

     But the sun shifts behind passing clouds and his shadow jumps all around in front of him.  The shadow is not really interested in the game and stares wistfully at the nearby tennis courts.  That is the sport he's always wanted to try, always suspected he had a natural ability for.

     The baseball flies straight through the shadow, followed soon after by the batter as he slides into first.

     "Why didn't you get that?" the others yell.

     "I tried, but he--"

     "I don't think we can afford to play with your shadow."

     Shoulders slumped, the boy and his shadow make their way back to the bench at the side of the field.

     "Thanks a lot," the boy says.

     His shadow shrugs silently again and watches the tennis game he is now slightly closer to.