Without even thinking,i thumped the pitcher down to safety,stared the oldest boy right in the eyes and growled.Not something like a growl,or sort of a growl;i bellowed out a growl that started in the pit of my stomach,gained momentum somewhere in my chest and exploded out of my mouth.The boys paled at the sound of it.
"Run!"they shouted to each other.
I took off after them.The thought suddenly crossed my mind that it was three against one,and if any of them could actually count that high,i would be in big trouble.What the three of them did figure out was that while not outnumbered,they were outspirited.They cut through a neighbor's yard,jumped a fence and run off.
I watched in disbelief as they scurried to safety.If i had had the energy,i would have thrown up my arms in victory and danced a jig,but i couldn't quite figure out what the victory was that i had just just won.I sat down,painting,on the nearest lawn to catch my breath and figure it out.
Then in hit me,In my anger,i had never doubted that i could catch all three-and so,that's how i had acted.And because they could see that i believe that i could catch them all,they had hightailed it out of there.Somehow thinking Ii could do something,and putting all my energy into only that possibility,had made it happen.Bravery? Self-confidence? Call it what you will,but it was mine for the keeping.
As the shadows got longer and the late afternoon heat began to release its grip on the day,i walked slowly home head held high.The "I'm Going to Call Your Mother"brothers were in for quite a summer.