The Intern: The End of the Road
Final installment of the prequel serial to Lose Yourself
The End of the Road is the final installment of the five-part serial The Intern, which sets up the April 2 release of the novel Lose Yourself.
Copyright Vince Wetzel and OT Press
“So, is she coming over or what?” Marcos asked.
Javier wasn’t sure. He and Heidi were in this strange relationship status where they texted and FaceTimed, but they only had a few dates with a couple of sleepovers. They certainly weren’t exclusive and obligated to see each other the moment they got the chance. But last night, she casually mentioned coming to the Bay Area to see him.
“I really don’t know,” Javier said. The pile of dishes on the edge of the sink was a masterpiece in construction and he hated to disrupt it by washing them. But if Heidi was coming by, he knew that he had to dismantle this installation.
“I’ll just tell Robbie I’m coming over to play video games,” Marcos said. Robbie lived down the hall at their apartment complex. Robbie was also Heidi’s cousin and, in a way, was how Heidi and Javier were together in the first place.
“Don’t do that,” Javier said. “So awkward if she doesn’t come over. Even more so if she does and stays over.”
“I guess I could call Denise and invite myself over.”
Unlike Javier, whose mostly physical relationship with Heidi was an anomaly, Marcos had various contacts only a BART train ride away from their apartment in San Leandro where he could have a night away. Thankfully, they never came here. The walls were paper thin, and Marcos had a reputation.
“I’ll text her and then I’ll let you know,” Javier said. “I’ve got to finish these dishes, then head to the stadium for the game.”
Marcos nodded and left for class down the road at Cal State East Bay. Javier was also a student, but his schedule was open on Thursdays, which allowed him to work for the A’s on weekday getaway days. These games felt most like a regular job, be at the stadium by 9 a.m., four hours before the 1 p.m. start.
Javier: So, we left things a little gray last night. Coming over tonight?
Javier pressed send and went to work on the dishes. Typically, Heidi’s phone was tied to her hip and a text was immediately answered. But no three-dot bubble appeared on his screen.
She must be in class, Javier thought. Part of the reason why their relationship wasn’t working was that she was a student at UC Davis, and he was at Cal State East Bay. The two were only separated by 100 miles, but an endless list of logistics and calendars to navigate. They worked as text friends and the couple of nights they spent together were very compatible, but there was just too much in their lives to dedicate to a new relationship.
Add to it, Heidi’s parents were officially divorced last week, and Heidi was having a difficult time wrapping her head around it. After all, she thought her parents were getting along great. Her life was in deep turmoil. Javier was there to listen, but it wasn’t like they were that close.
Still no text.
He put Heidi aside and left for the BART station for the train to the Coliseum. This would be one of the first finals of the season for Javier. After today, the A’s were heading on the road for six games before heading back home for a final home stand with the Seattle Mariners. For Javier, this was the best job, and not just because of the atmosphere of going to the park every day. Those sounds and smells, even for the dumpy Coliseum, were intoxicating.
Javier couldn’t believe the luck he had fallen into this year. He was interning for the A’s when their All-Star right field Brett Austen was having a season for the ages. With a little over a week to go, Austen was batting .406, the highest since Ted Williams in 1941 and in the next week, they’d all know if he achieved this mark or not.
These were memories he was sure to recount for the rest of his life as people brought up 2022. He kept every lineup card, media guide, press notes, and even sneaked out a couple of autograph pictures of Austen to commemorate the season. He’d never sell them, but it was a reminder of the education on and off the field he received with this opportunity.
Javier arrived at the Coliseum, putting Heidi’s situation aside. It was time for baseball.
Each time he took the steps out of the BART station and up to the bridge to the stadium, he felt a surge of pride, awe and impostor syndrome that he was working for a professional sports organization. He smiled at the idea that he might be interacting with Brett Austen today or the broadcasters.
Today he had credential duty and would be stationed at the desk inside the Oracle Arena across the plaza from the Coliseum. It wasn’t his favorite job, but he knew he couldn’t be delivering stats and collecting autographs every day.
“How’s it looking?” A’s Director of Media Relations Pete Henderson asked, pushing in through the glass doors. “Any problems with credentials at all?”
“We had a mix-up between photo access and press access, but that’s it,” Javier said. “But that was an easy fix and we printed up another one right away.”
Henderson nodded. “I will need you to print out a credential for Paul Buckley of KARC in Sacramento and his camera guy Gary Beckett.”
“The old ESPN guy?” Javier asked.
Henderson nodded. “Don’t tell him he’s old. Paul’s an old friend and is going to participate in the press conference today.”
Javier turned to the laptop to print up the labels. Henderson stood at the desk, the impatient tapping of fingers on the counter penetrating Javier’s consciousness. The intensity of Austen’s season affected no one more than Henderson, who had also become Austen’s personal press assistant and gate keeper. Henderson was the one who kept the press at an arm’s distance.
Back in early July, Henderson gave Javier the job. But that lasted a week as the media treated the intern like chum in the water. There was a reason members of the media were called a pack. They surrounded Javier, growling with questions on access while Javier tried to play nice. In the end, they overran Javier and Austen eventually had to get up from his locker and race to the trainer’s room where the media had no access.
Since then, strict protocols were put in place to protect Austen. He held a pre-game press conference prior to each series and gave selective pre-approved interviews to local press. He also sat for a press conference following every game. Otherwise, he was off-limits, and Henderson enforced access by threatening to pull credentials.
Henderson kept staring at the wall, lost in thought. Javier broke through.
“Buckley’s credential is printed and filed,” Javier said. “Anything else?”
“No, we’re good,” Henderson said. He exhaled deeply and shook his head. “One more week.”
The visible toll this season took on Henderson made Javier question his possible career choices. Ultimately, he wanted Henderson’s job someday. He hoped this internship led to an actual job and he could move forward in sports information either for a pro sports team or a major university. But he knew long hours and stress were the downsides of the position.
Henderson looked at his phone. He smiled.
“Well, the Baseball Broadcast Network will be here on the season finale if Austen still has a chance to hit .400,” Henderson said. “Not bad for a team out of the playoffs since July. Looks like the A team too.”
“Is that Dan Muir, Tyson Porter, and Dana Peck?” Javier asked. He had a small crush on Dana Peck, the sideline reporter for BBN. She walked past him once in the press room the last time the crew had broadcast a game at the Coliseum in June when Austen went on a three-week tear. While Heidi was attractive, Dana Peck was on another level.
“Get your dick out of the clouds kid,” Henderson admonished. “She’ll tear it off. Remember when Austen made the same mistake his rookie year.”
Javier had seen Austen’s blowup on YouTube countless times. His tantrum, a reaction to Dana Peck going hard at him during an interview while she was at ESPN, even became a gif. He nodded back Henderson, who turned and left, texting on his phone. Better focus back on Heidi and his own phone. Still no texts from Heidi.
Javier: Marcos was asking about tonight and if you’re coming by. I’m at the game if you need anything.
The phone was heavy in Javier’s hand. Was she ghosting him?
“Hi, Paul Buckley with KARC,” a voice said. Javier looked up. Yes, there was Paul Buckley, former ESPN anchor with the “Catch of the Day” catchphrase smiling at him with the perfect teeth and hair. The sides were a little grayer than he remembered at ESPN, but still photogenic. His cameraman was with him.
Javier put his phone down.
“Yeah, I just printed these,” Javier said. “I didn’t know you guys would be here this early.”
“I’m hoping to catch Austen in the cage for a bit,” Buckley said. “Henderson said they were planning to take batting practice.”
“Yeah, but he doesn’t do pregame interviews outside of press conferences,” Javier said.
“Mostly b-roll,” Buckley winked. “We’ll catch his press conference, but we’ll also talk to his teammates and Garza, the manager.”
Javier nodded. He passed over the pair of laminated credentials over the counter to Buckley.
“Thanks. So, what do you think? Does Austen get to .400?” Buckley asked.
“Off the record,” Javier said with a wink. He wanted to make sure he wasn’t quoted as a source inside the team. “I think he gets it done. He’s not slowing down.”
“Great for the game if he does,” Buckley said. “Baseball needs this story. It’s captivated the country. It’s the most remarkable thing to happen since Cal Ripken breaking Gehrig’s streak.”
Javier nodded. After Buckley left, Javier didn’t move from his desk for the next two hours. The attention around Austen made the crunch for credentials a bit more intense, almost like the concession works in the stadium right before the game. Before he knew it, the game was in the third inning. He checked his phone. No texts from Heidi.
The most surprising part of his internship was that there was not much to do during the game itself, leaving him to walk the concourse and take in the sights, sounds and smells of the game. While he never sat in the stands, he sometimes stood in the back of the lower section, talked with an usher, say hello to fans. Javier always had a hand radio if Henderson or anyone else needed something in the moment.
Brett Austen was up to bat. He lined out in the first inning, and he was up again in the bottom of the third. Austen was confident as ever. His swings were purposeful and there was no hesitation. Meanwhile, Baltimore pitcher Evan Webber attempts to project confidence were empty. He threw to first base twice before throwing to the plate. Webber got ahead in the count 1-2, but Austen battled back to a full count before pushing a sinking fastball into left field. Another hit for Austen and the crowd gave him a standing ovation. Just another day for Brett Austen.
As he stood at the edge of the stands down the right field line, he saw one of his favorite ballpark characters, Derek, skinny and full of energy. Typically, he sold lemonade, but today he carried hot dogs, peanuts, licorice and other food items.
“No lemonade today?” Javier asked.
“Nah, weekday day game, guy,” Derek said. “Businessman’s special. They’re having their lunch and watching the game. They want food, OK? You want a dog? Peanuts?”
“No thanks, just doing some rounds before heading to the press box,” Javier said.
“Are you going to watch Thursday Night Football?” Derek looked over, like he was sharing a secret.
“Maybe,” Javier said. It all depended on whether or not Heidi was stopping by. Derek leaned in and talked in a hushed voice.
“Hear Jackson’s shoulder is hurting. Take Philly and the points,” he said.
“I’ve never really bet on games,” Javier said.
“There’s good money if you know what you’re doing. Let me know if you ever want to. I’ve got a guy. He is just down the road at Club Maui.”
“Good to know,” Javier wanted to get out of this conversation. “Well, I had better… You know… get going.”
“Yeah guy, I need to sell more dogs,” Derek said.
His phone buzzed. Was it Heidi?
Heidi: hey. Sorry about the silence. Have a moment?
Javier: Yeah
Javier ducked into the stairwell and pulled the phone to his ear.
“Hey,” Javier said. He heard Heidi’s whimpers on the other end. “Is everything ok?”
“No,” Heidi said and burst into sobs. “My papa fell. He’s in the hospital.”
“Oh no. I’m so sorry. How are you?”
“How do you think? I’m crying.”
Javier slapped himself for being so stupid. Of course. He wasn’t equipped for this advanced communication skills test. He was out of his element. He heard Heidi draw a deep breath.
“So, yeah, I’m not coming over tonight obviously,” she said.
“Of course, I get it. You’ve got to be there for your papa.”
Another deep breath came through the line. Javier knew that breath. He’d been on the giving and receiving end of that hesitation a few times. He braced for impact.
“Javier, I really like you. I really do,” she said. Another breath for confidence. “But I really don’t know if I am in a place to be seeing someone right now. This whole thing with my papa, my parents, my classes, all of this shit is just too much.”
Hearing rejection is never easy, no matter how prepared or how understanding it is delivered. Javier felt the pang in his chest. He felt his defenses go up. Should he take offense that he was part of “all of this shit” to which she was referring? It was best to let it slide.
“OK, I mean we can revisit when things calm down again, right? I mean I like you a lot.”
“I don’t know. I can’t think right now. I’m sorry I’m doing this over the phone. I’m just so stressed.”
“I get it. I take it you won’t be coming next week either for the final game of the year?”
“No, of course not,” her voice rose. Javier winced. Heidi was ready to move on. “Look, I gotta go. I’m sorry. Maybe give me a few weeks break and we can talk, OK?”
“Sure. Listen, I’m sorry for everything you’re going through right now. I know your papa has meant a lot to you and your parents, everything else. I’ll be thinking...”
“Thanks. You’re sweet,” she said hurriedly and ended the call.
Damn, he thought. Well, I guess that was it.
Javier came out of the stairwell, still stunned by the knockout punch Heidi delivered to their whatever-it-was relationship. He pulled off his credential and entered the stands and took one of the empty seats and looked out onto the field in front of him.
Who knew if he’d ever see her again. Probably, Robbie was still a neighbor, and she was close with her cousin. At the same time, maybe it was like this season, a dream that will remain with him for the rest of his life. He didn’t want it to end, but he knew that in a little more than a week, he’d be in his senior year of college and would soon begin planning to do this job for real.
“Don’t you have press to harass?” a silhouette blocking the afternoon sun asked.
“Just taking in the game Fred,” Javier said. Fred was one of the long-time ushers with the A’s. After 22 years, he was retiring when the season ended. Javier remembered Fred’s wife had died during this season.
“I sometimes do that too when no one's looking or no one’s here,” Fred said. “Looks like you were contemplating life.”
“Just realizing the season is ending. Kinda bittersweet, you know?”
“You don’t have to tell me. But listen. Despite what those fancy theoretical scientists say, time moves in only one direction. Especially at your age. You’ve got lots more ahead than behind. I can’t say the same.”
“I’m going to miss everything,” Javier said.
“No, you won’t. There’s be a new everything that comes up. Don’t worry. Just be open to it.”
With that, Fred tapped Javier’s shoulder and walked further up the stands.
Javier pulled up Marcos’s contact.
Javier: Looks like I’m free. Where are we going to watch Thursday Night Football?
Brett Austen concludes his historic season in the novel Lose Yourself, out April 2. Many of the characters in this serial play prominent roles in the narrative.
Lose Yourself: Out April 2
It’s The Final Game of the Season…
All Star Brett Austen has a chance to secure the first .400 batting average for a season in more than 80 years. But increasing pressure and his own hubris threaten the apex of his career.
Meanwhile…
A sideline reporter wrestles with a choice between career and her mom in crisis.
A retiring usher takes in his final game before moving in with his son’s family.
A lanky 15-year-old can’t understand his future stepdad while pining for a girl from school.
A lemonade vendor agonizes over a big score to settle gambling debts and fulfill his daughter’s dreams.
An adult daughter navigates uncomfortable family dynamics at home while her father lies in hospice.
Will their choices meet the moment?
Character Profile: Will Jensen
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