The Peach Play Games
Song: Stand By Me—JohnLennon
June 22nd, 1975
I spent every day with Darren.We went swimming again, hung out at the park, and prepared for the Peach Play Games.I was halfway through reading my library book, and Darren was working on learning how to play “Pitiful Peaches” on the drums.I asked him multiple times if I could hear it, but he would only let me once he perfected it.The days were getting longer and hotter.Although I was having a great time with Darren, I missed my other friends.I needed to talk to Betsy more than anything.She would know why it bugged me that a girl hit on Darren.I convinced myself it was because I wanted to protect him, not for another reason.
To enter the Peach Play Games, you needed a team of four players.Each player from a team would sign up for a game.Darren signed up for peach baskets.I signed up for bowling.My mom was going to bake peach crumble bars for the sweet treat competition.James signed up for the sawing contest.We were prepared.The team with the most winners received free ice cream from the Peach Pot for the rest of the summer and a brand-new pedal boat!
On the day of the games, I sprung out of bed with a spring in my step.I was more than ready.
Darren came over early in the morning to get his team shirt.
“Good morning, Darren, the basketball star!Are you ready to win a pedal boat?”
“Of course I am.We will use that boat the rest of the summer,” Darren said, matching my enthusiasm.
James handed Darren his sage green shirt.The shirt was soft and contained black letters embroidered on the back stating, “Hartleys.”My grandma made the shirts before she left.
“If we win, I am going to use that boat to go fishing all the time.Don’t worry though, you guys can come with me when we win,” James gloated.
Darren shook his hand.“Hey, this is your family, James.You can use the boat however you like.”
My stepdad smiled, but it did not reach his eyes.
My momma was preparing water bottles to keep us hydrated throughout the day.The competition started at ten o’clock, so it was almost time to leave.She gathered the drinks and her peach crumble bars and entered the front of the truck.
Since there was not enough room for all four of us to sit, I sat in the bed of the pickup truck with Darren.When the truck turned, gravity made Darren’s leg slightly graze mine.A jolt of electricity flowed through my body.I pulled my leg closer to my chest and swung my arm out the side as the wind brushed my bare face.
Team check-in was in front of the library.My stepdad signed us in and paid our dues, before we headed to the basketball court for the first game.Darren was practicing shooting air hoops as he waited in line.One by one, each contestant would get a bucket of peaches to throw in the basketball hoop.The contestants had to stand in a line twenty feet away from the hoop and throw as many peaches as they could in one minute.Whoever made the most peaches in the basket would win the round.
Darren’s brother, Benji, went first.He scored two peaches in one minute.We cheered him on to show our good sportsmanship.I was proud of him for doing his best.After three more people, it was Darren’s turn.
Darren approached the line and bent his knees toward the lined pavement.The judge started the timer and blew his whistle.
“Ready, set, go!”
Darren grabbed two peaches at a time and threw them at once.The first two swooshed into the basket with speed.
The crowd gasped.
“Are you allowed to do that?”one observer asked.
“No rules have been broken.Darren can continue,” claimed the judge.
Darren bent his knees again, grabbing two at a time.I stared at him in amazement.He made eye contact with me as he threw them, and they fell to the concrete.The crowd became still.He wiped his hands on his shorts and tried again.He focused on the basket, and the peaches flew through the air.They hit the rim at the last second and bounced forward into the hoop.The timer beeped, and his turn was over.He’d made four peaches into the basket.Two more people tried to beat his record and fell short.Darren was announced as the winner of the 1975 Peach Baskets Game.He ran up and hugged me with a slight squeeze.
I was a fresh peach in his hands, but I was not ready to be picked.
“One game down, three more to go, Copper,” he said with a grin.
I pulled away from him.“Momma is next.”
The sweet treat competition took place under a gazebo in the park.We huddled around the picnic table as the judges tasted each recipe.My grandma typically made her famous peach cobbler for the contest.My mom improvised since she was not there, and Grandma refused to give her a Hartley recipe because she wasn’t blood.My mom’s peach bars tasted similar to Grandma’s creations, so I was assured of my mother’s dish even when she wasn’t.
The judge started at the beginning of the table, tasting each treat with consideration.Embellished pots and pans lay decoratively on the table, making each treat look delicious.When he got to my mom’s bars, he paused.His eyes watered, and his nose flinched.He got to the last treat on the table and scribbled on his notepad.They told the spectators that the winner would be announced in five minutes.The judge conversed with his family and city council to have them taste each sweet treat.After what felt like forever, the judge said, “The winner of the 1975 Peach Sweet Treat competition goes to April Hartley!”
“Oh, my!Thank you.I did not expect this.”My mom rejoiced as the judge elevated her arm to represent her victory.Winning a baking contest wasn’t just a small triumph for my momma.It was important.Grandma Hartley was the one who could bake and had all of the secret recipes up her sleeve.She didn’t think my mom was a good enough baker for her son, but this gave Momma the confidence she lacked.Her smile widened as people complimented her dish.
