Petco Park

How long has it been since he last set foot in San Diego? Distant memories of being him with a girl to go to Sea World, but that was thirty years ago. There was a time he flew in to town then rented a car and drove down to Tijuana and the Mexican coastline, but that was a year before Covid….the years of drugs and the drink have pickled his brain.

He thinks about past trips while driving through the Sonoran desert in the early morning. It is about time he did a road trip, and going back to San Diego was as good a place as any. The San Diego Padres are playing a day game against the Cincinnati Reds, and his ticket is in hand.

A cool ocean breeze wafts over him from the top row in left field. Seventy degrees and the sun is turning his skin red. The stadium is fuller than he would have imagined for a day game, but there is a local promotion happening, “make remote work remote” with plenty of local businesses bringing their employees to the game.

A tight game comes down to the ninth inning. Score is 4-4, and the Padres have two outs, nobody on base. Fernando Titus Jr. is up, but has two strikes against him. The Reds pitcher throws a high fast ball. Fernando swings and connects. It’s a Long Fly Ball to deep center field…..and it’s GONE! Home Run! Padres Win! Padres Win! Padres Win!