Don't look for a punch line, there isn't one. Read
it anyway. My question is: Would WE have made the same
choice? My other question: Can our warring political parties make the same choice?
Can they for a change seek common grounds expunging considerations of religion and race, to give the common man (Shay) a chance for one moment in time. The ordinary rakyat CAN, if the politicians WANT us to. Didn’t we vote them in? When did the rules change? And who changed them?
At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children
with learning disabilities, the father of one of the
students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by
all who attended. After extolling the school and its
dedicated staff, he offered a question:
'When not interfered with by outside influences,
everything nature does, is done with perfection.
Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do.
He cannot understand things as other children do.
Where is the natural order of things in my son?'
The audience was stilled by the query.
The father continued... 'I believe that when a child
like Shay, who was mentally and physically disabled comes
into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature
presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat
that child.'
Then he told the following story:Shay and I had walked past
a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball...
Shay asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?'
I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like
Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that
if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a
much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be
accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.I approached
one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much)
if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and
said, 'We're losing by six runs and the game is in
the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and
we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth
inning.'Shay struggled over to the team's bench and,
with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a
small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my
joy at my son being accepted.In the bottom of the eighth
inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still
behind by three.In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on
a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits
came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the
game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved
to him from the stands.In the bottom of the ninth inning,
Shay's team scored again.Now, with two outs and the
bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay
was scheduled to be next at bat.At this juncture, do they
let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the
game?Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew
that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't
even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect
with the ball.However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the
pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning
aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few
steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make
contact.The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and
missed.The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss
the ball softly towards Shay.As the pitch came in, Shay
swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to
the pitcher.The game would now be over.The pitcher picked up
the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to
the first baseman.Shay would have been out and that would
have been the end of the game.Instead, the pitcher threw the
ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach
of all team mates.Everyone from the stands and both teams
started yelling, 'Shay, run to first!Run to
first!'Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but
he made it to first base.He scampered down the baseline,
wide-eyed and startled.Everyone yelled, 'Run to second,
run to second!'Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran
towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the
base.By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right
fielder had the ball . the smallest guy on their team who
now had his first chance to be the hero for his team.He
could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the
tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he,
too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the
third-baseman's head.Shay ran toward third base
deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases
toward home.All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all
the Way Shay'Shay reached third base because the
opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the
direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to
third!Shay, run to third!'As Shay rounded third, the
boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet
screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!'Shay ran to
home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who
hit the grand slam and won the game for his team'That
day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, 'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world'.
Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter,
having never forgotten being the hero and making me so
happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully
embrace her little hero of the day!
We all have thousands of opportunities every single day to
help realize the 'natural order of things.'So many
seemingly trivial interactions between two people present us
with a choice: Do we pass along a little spark of love and
humanity or do we pass up those opportunities and leave the
world a little bit colder in the process?
A wise man once said every society is judged by how it treats it's least
fortunate amongst them.
May your day, be a Shay Day
Very moving story sir.
ReplyDeleteI have a son with somewhat similar traits (he's Down syndrome).
Have a nice Shay Day.
You left me with misty eyes...If only our society cares...
ReplyDeleteMay god bless Shay....
p/s: Zorro,this is your best...i think if you want to effect change,this is OUR common ground that we have been searching for all the years...
It's really a wonderful story. Almost made me shed to tears.
ReplyDeleteMay everyone's day a Shay day.
hey bro
ReplyDeletei hope you dont mind it but i sent this to my daughter in perth.
buy you a malt when i come up there in three weeks------i stopped drinking make sure we go somewhere i can get coffee o of fresh fruits.
Uncle Zorro!
ReplyDeleteThis story brought tears to my eyes. Thanks for making my day!
I have no idea whether this is a fiction served for inspiration or is it a true story.
ReplyDeleteWhichever it may be, it did create an impact. And i believe i can speak for most readers on this one.
A good read for sure. But i hope it goes beyond that. Ideal stories are often heard of, but hardly witnessed.
We surely will, when the ISA is abolished.
Julian, you call me when you hit towm (016-6319973) no malt...just to bond with you with a lot of fresh juices. You just do that. Contact me.
ReplyDeleteSue. We need that once in a while to bring us back to what we need to do.You stay on track, will ya?
Argus Eye....fact or fiction is not the issue. If it moves us to some action, that is important.
Shariff, until we bond as one race, Bangsa Malaysia, we will find it difficult to move ahead.I happen to be born of chinese parents but I am Malaysian first and a chinese by race because the country says that I have to announce that. To me my ethnicity is irrelevant.
PakShah, can I be presumptious to say that you and Machik Shah is enriched because of this; unlike us who take so many things for granted and thinks that everyone owes it to us to make no waves to disrupt our comfort zones. Daily prayers for you and macik shah to stay strong and be the lighthouse for others in similar straits. Mush blessing on both of you.
Thanks Bro' Zorro.
ReplyDeleteBro' Argus Eye, I have read a strikingly similar story before with the only difference being the Game those boys played. But, besides what those boys kindly did, they were indeed the winners that day despite losing the game.
Folks, what touched me most, personally, was the final factual statement in that story that I read that God puts an Underprivileged amongst us and many assume that the under-privileged person is being tested when the actual subject/s of the Almighty's test are the people around that underprivileged person, WE.
Take care, Folks.
Zorro, we have been stuffed with all the rotten and selfish politicking for many good months. How refreshing and touching your story of Shay...there's still hope and when there is hope, we will always find love. "Love is nature's way of giving and a reason for living"
ReplyDeleteAs a retiree, I have faith and trust in our younger generations to do the right thing.
Please feed our young minds with more story of compassion and love.
Sir,
ReplyDeleteA great, inspiring and timely story beyond question for ALL Malaysians.
REQUEST: Now, can ALL bloggers PLEASE take this piece by Zorro and upload prominently on your sites -- just in case decision makers and the 'great' Parliament bawdies miss this opportunity to LEARN.
Tq for a wonderful reminder.....
ReplyDeletePathma
Life of tragedies
ReplyDeleteThe tears of many
Flowing unashamedly
Knowing there is still hope
In our lives
God ways and grace
It isn’t finished as we sleep
Through His beacon of hope
There is a way
The handicaps born
They are here for a reason
How compassionate we are
Giving way to get life going
The small gifts in our hearts
It lights up the eyes of others
We may not know what we have done
Along the way God influences glow
There is always a change
When we share a little of our joy
The handicaps in our midst
They are here for a reason
Least we forget of our grace
Hope brings promise to life. Good sharing
ReplyDeleteDear Zorro,
ReplyDeleteFor a father of a special needs boy, your story indeed a very happy one. Thanks for sharing.
ChoonLee
Originally posted by notgillcup:
ReplyDeleteShay and his father had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were
playing baseball. Shay asked,"Do you think they'll let me play?"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I doubt it, since they're already in the middle of a game. But, when I first thought this was just a friendly game involving some boys and their own baseball equipment, I figured there was a slight chance.
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shay struggled over to the team's bench put on a team shirt
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And then I realized just how ridiculous this glurge is. Since when do organized leagues accept some random kid in mid-game?
quote:
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However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing the
other team putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved
in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least be able to
make contact...The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards
Shay...Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the head of the first
baseman, out of reach of all team mates.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm sure his team was thrilled.
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
the right fielder had
the ball, the smallest guy on their team, who had a chance to be the hero
for his team for the first time. He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he
understood the pitcher's intentions and he too intentionally threw the
ball high and far over the third-baseman's head.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It sure is nice of this ENTIRE TEAM to telepathically agree to throw the game so that some random kid who showed up on the other team mid-game can enjoy winning.
quote:
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We all send thousands of
jokes through the e-mail without a second thought, but when it comes to
sending messages about life choices, people think twice about sharing.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Probably cuz no one wants to read it.
quote:
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The crude, vulgar, and often obscene pass freely through cyberspace, but public
discussion about decency is too often suppressed in our schools and workplaces.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It so is! I remember just the other day when I was trying to have a G-rated discussion about how to treat people the right way, and my boss pulled me aside and said "I don't like to hear that kind of stuff in this office. If it's not about sex or bodily functions, save it for the privacy of your own home."
--------------------
Check out my blog! http://fundiewatch.blogspot.com
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Posts: 1527 | From: Buffalo, NY | Registered: Mar 2005 | IP: Logged |
Towknie
We Three Blings
posted 04 May, 2006 03:05 AM
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And the tiny right fielder who had the chance to win the game grew up to be the mighty Casey of Mudville. He came up to bat, and saw the sheer joy of being in the came in the pitcher's eyes, so he swung mightily three times to again sacrifice his team's victory and the joy of Mudville for the good of humanity.
I read this story again, and when Shay comes to bat, the bases are loaded, and the team is down by two runs. Just by virtue of the pitcher throwing the ball over the first baseman's head, the runners on second and third would have scored, thus tying the game. The right fielder's throw would have allowed the third baserunner to score, this winning the game, and Shay would get to hang out at third base with no need to run for home.
Sports in America is not only a multibillion dollar industry, but rare is the child growing up in the United States who has never been involved in some type of sports competition, be it baseball, basketball, punchball, handball, football or hockey. For this reason, people who have grown up in America, both young and old, are swept up and moved as their mind’s eye visualizes the unfolding of these incredible events.
ReplyDeleteHowever, it is not only an American that can fully appreciate the intensity of this marvelous “sports” story. This tender story also has universal appeal, because it deals with the universal values of sensitivity, self-esteem, and acceptance.
Shay, whose actual name is said to be Shaya …grew up and went to Chush school for special kids in Brooklyn, New York . His name and story has been mentioned on several occasions by Rabbi Paysach Krohn …a well know Rabbi in New York. E.J Nolan has written a song about Shay titled The Day Shay Got To Play.
Whether the story is true or otherwise …is not the point I suppose .The Great Stephen Bong would say …Listen to what I mean and not to what I say ! Am I not right Reverand?
I cried when i read it. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteA fiction that will remain a fiction for in the real world, natural selection and survival of the fittest is the order of the day. Shay would be crushed and left behind to rot in the real world.
ReplyDeleteKnights....appreciate the background to this tale.
ReplyDeleteShag, are you reading too many things into this simple tale with a simply stark message? I have read this story many times over the years and retrieved it for this posting...which I thought was timely. I never thought that anyone would do a post-mortem, much less surgically dismember the "heart".
Gobloking,
ReplyDeleteSurely the harsh reality of the day would keep everyone on the check. But that doesn't mean it would always precede humanitarian values.
Hope is not a word that is far fetched. The Shays have hope, and through that glimpse of hope..the Shays will march on.
zorro,
ReplyDeletei sent you an email to ktswee@hotmail.com. just wondering if that's an active mail or is just for the purpose of this blog. thanks.
Yes, Bernard!
ReplyDeleteDemocracy is the rule of the majority.
Its true test though, is in its ability to protect its minorities and the weak.
Quote:
ReplyDelete"When you Shag too much,
you're bound to miss the forest for the trees"
- Unknown
BTW Bernard,
ReplyDeleteI've dedicated a song to you on my blog!
;-)
that WAS a touching STORY indeed : what game is that, take faham lah !!
ReplyDeleteNOW back to our senses:
(1) mmgg wants 2juta from dr.csl !
(2) the anak mamak wants all primary ( except malay) schools to be CLOSED down !!
DAMN DAMN DAMN the xxx a/l mamak !!
Ucl Zorro,
ReplyDeleteGreat story but sadly Malaysians in general will never get the moral of this story.
sounds like a pakatan plotted story lah zorro.you and your sick mind games.why dont you write something about smoking pot and woodstock!whats that you put there in your pipe anyway?
ReplyDeletethe anak of big mamak should be ISAed lah 4 making such seditious
ReplyDelete@#$%^&* !!
hahaha nice story..
ReplyDeletejust like peter pan..think happy thoughts..then can flyyyyy..
Dont mess with Islam and Malay Rights. We are not alone
ReplyDeletehttp://www.tranungkite.net/v7/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=18803
Wow, the Kamel is back and following him a lot of hired hands. The more the merrier, yes?
ReplyDeleteDid your minders have to spell out every word you post on our blogs...you all speak with the same poison....be original lah...everyone of us write same way....no style wan!