Number Three

My three boys were on a little league baseball team. It was a small league with only three teams. 

The coach had a son on the team too. The little boy had a severe case of asthma. His father hoped playing baseball would be good for him.

The team did not win a game. Not one. The boys felt bad.

In the middle of the season the coach had to quit. He got a new job and was moving away.

Since we could not find a new man to coach and I could not be considered because I was a girl my father took over the team. 

The team won their first game ever. The boys were elated. 

As we drove them to the small store we always took them to after a game there were boys hanging out windows of all the cars. They were yelling, "We are number three!"

They felt like they had finally earned a place in the league. You have never seen happier little boys.

The team was in third place at the end of the season. But they were proud to be a part of something larger.