A few days later we drove to Philadelphia and parked the car
and made our way past a memorial to the old Philadelphia (then Kansas City, then Oakland) Athletics
and their venerable leader, Mr. Baseball -- Connie Mack
before making our way into the ball park
where the scoreboard was lit up
and Ben and Suzanne were enjoying the game
even as Suzanne made her way to the refreshment stand to add ketchup to her hot dog
and mustard to her pretzel
so that they could eat in happiness
even as I had peanuts (but no cracker jack)
and we watched the grounds crew prepare the field
as the Philly Phanatic appeared
and the umpires set the ground rules
so that the scoreboard could announce batters
who took their swings
as the game played on and sadly our Buccos lost their last exhibition game of the season.