Week 6 Story: The Sultan of Swat

Baseball Diamond (Wikipedia)

Babe was born in 1983 to a legendary family of baseball players. His father was a slugger, like his father before him. After their fathers retired, each son in the family would take up the reigns and carry on the family legacy. Babe was no different. His father raised him from when he was a toddler to become the greatest baseball player who ever lived. When Babe started going to elementary school, he began to play baseball with the neighborhood kids, some of them twice his age. Because of his training, Babe would excel in these games and his popularity quickly rose. The older kids started calling him The Sultan of Swat. By the time Babe was in the 4th grade, the entire neighborhood, including the adults, would come to spectate at these impromptu baseball games. One day, while Babe was showing off his skill at the plate, another boy walked from the crowd onto the field.

Barry's life started in 1983 as well. He was found abandoned in front of a foster home, which took him in. He lived a hard life where he owned nothing and the few things he had in his possession were shared with all the other kids, though he had one thing he would absolutely not give up. His most prized possession was a baseball left with him when he was abandoned. The second he was told about baseball, he started playing it with the kids on the lawn of the home. When he turned 8, he was finally adopted by a couple. His new father was a taxi driver and his mother was a teacher. Barry kept his love for baseball and began to play it with the kids at his school. Through his dedication, he refined his skills to the point of perfection. Barry's family moved when he started the 4th grade after his mother found a better job in another school district.

Barry stepped out onto the field and stared at the crowd. He yelled at Babe to give up the plate to him, telling him that he could do everything he can and better. Though the other kids on the lot jeered at Barry, Babe was curious. He thought to himself that no kid as disheveled and dirty as this one could beat him, so he'd let Barry humiliate himself in front of the audience. Babe tossed the bat to Barry, who stepped up to the plate and assumed a batting position. The pitcher threw a mean knuckle ball but Barry read the movements perfectly. The bat cracked like lightning when he struck the ball as it flew into the air over the houses fences behind them. The jeers returned with the kids calling it a fluke, but Barry did it again and again until they were satisfied. He then offered a challenge to Babe. If he could win against Babe in a game of baseball, Babe would have to give up his title. Babe accepted but the sun started setting, putting their match on hold until the next time they met.

Author's Note: So this is based off a story from the Mahabharata. Arjuna has a half-brother named Karna who was abandoned at birth, put into a basket and sent down a river. Arjuna grew up as a prince and was taught by masters how to conduct himself in combat. Karna was adopted by a charioteer and wanted to learn more about archery, so he asked a master called Drona to teach him. He was rejected, so he ended up asking Drona's guru to teach him instead. Arjuna is performing these miraculous acts in front of an audience through the use of astras when Karna comes in and tells everyone he can do everything Arjuna did. So Karna demonstrates this and proposes a fight with Arjuna, but the day ends before they can fight. In my story, Babe represents Arjuna, being from a noble heritage and taught by a master. Barry represents Karna, being abandoned at birth and taken in by a taxi driver (charioteer). I liked the idea of Karna growing as an archer to be equal to Arjuna through sheer hard work, even though it's more likely it was just a natural gift seeing as they're both offsprings of the gods. Nevertheless, I showed Barry refining his skills through sheer hard work and getting to be equals with Babe.

Bibliography: The Mahabharata by R. K. Narayan