If you’ve read any of my previous posts you will be aware I like to make a point through true stories and this is no exception.

Alex Jeffreys students are a mixed bunch.  From different countries and backgrounds, they all have varying skills Some have been kind enough to offer their knowledge and expertise for free, whilst others have been unable to reciprocate – YET.

 

No doubt it’sjust a matter of time and all the more reason why we should continue to pull together.

 

This story was originally reported in the New York newspapers and has been circulated all over the internet.  It has been  confirmed as being true by the investigative website TruthOrFiction.

 

I think this true story will touch your heart.It did mine, not least because I have an autistic son and know all about the problems of inclusion, but also because of  topic amongst some students.

 

The story is about Shaya, a boy with learning disabilities who lives in Brooklyn.  Each weekend, Shaya and his dad like to go for walks, and often watch the neighbourhood boys play baseball.

 

One Sunday  afternoon as they approached the ball field, Shaya looked up at his father and asked-

 

“Dad do you think they would let me play?”

Shaya’s dad knew his son was not at all athletic and most boys  would not want him on their team. He was, after all, learning disabled, uncoordinated and had never even played baseball before.

 

However, he also knew how much his son wanted to play and be included in something.

 

Shaya’s dad decided to risk it and asked one of the the boys if they would consider letting Shaya join the game.

 

The boy didn’t know what to say and looked for guidance from his fellow players, but they weren’t very forthcoming so he took matters into his own  hands.

His team were about to start the eighth innings and were already losing by six runs.

He didn’t think they would win the game so decided he’d give Shaya a chance.

 

He instructed his team to give Shaya a glove and let him play behind second  base, in short center field.

 

Shaya was delighted.

 

In the bottom of the eighth inning Shaya’s team rallied and scored

 

three runs. But they were still losing by three.In the bottom of the ninth, they rallied again.

They had three runners on base, two out and then it was Shaya’s turn to bat.

 

Would they let him?After all, Shaya couldn’t even hold a bat, yet alone hit with it and that was really obvious as he stood up at the plate.

The pitcher for the other team moved in closer and lobbed the ball very gently so Shaya could at least make contact.Shaya swung and missed by a wide margin.

Before the second pitch, one of Shaya’s teammates called out:

“Hold on, let me help him, let me show him how to bat”.

This boy came and stood behind Shaya, and put his arms around him so the two boys were now holding the bat together.

The pitcher moved in a few more steps and lobbed the ball as softly as he could. This time, the two boys swung the bat together and managed to hit the ball gently back to the pitcher.

 

“Run Shaya!  Run to first!”- yelled his team mates, and  he took off for first base.

The pitcher pounced on the ball and could easily have ended the game there and then but instead he deliberately threw it way over the first baseman’s head, all the way into the outfield.

 

Shaya was safe at first, but the first baseman for the other team turned him toward secondand said:

 

“Run, Shaya, run to second!”

 

By then, the right fielder had chased down the ball and he too could have easily thrown Shaya out at second base, but he understood what the pitcher had done, so threw the ball not just over second base, but way over the third baseman’s head.

 

As Shaya reached second base the opposing shortstop ran towards him, turned him towards third base and shouted:

 

“Run, Shaya, run to third!”

Then, as he rounded third, the boys from both teams ran behind him screaming:

 

“Shaya run home”

As he put his foot on home plate, both teams gathered around him, lifted him on their shoulders and cheered him as the hero of the game.

 

He had hit a grand slam home run and won the game!

 

Through their selfless efforts, those 18 boys not only gave Shaya the thrill of his life, but also something more precious than that – acceptance!

In many ways it’s the same with this coaching program. 

 

There are many amongst the Fortunate500 who have marketing and technical expertise, whilst others are like Shaya – at least in the sense we have much to learn.

 

However, just like in that baseball game, there is a real team spirit and everyone is pulling together to make sure we are all taking the journey together.

 

It’s a wonderful feeling of satisfaction when you encourage and help others for often, it is the smallest, seemingly unimportant gesture or word which can mean the most.

At the end of the day, I feel sure all the Fortunate500 will experience the same happiness Shaya and the other team players did as we continue with the coaching – together!

 

Jean Shaw