บท 11: Quiet Transitions (2)
The next morning in Phoenix, Arizona, the Edberg family prepared for what would be their last full day before heading back to Sweden. Klara had been the one to insist on a day of shopping and exploring, and her excitement was contagious.
Even Marie, who usually liked to plan everything out meticulously, seemed eager to follow along with her daughter's suggestions. Linus, on the other hand, wasn't particularly thrilled. He had no personal agenda, so he was content to let his sister take the lead for the day.
The Arizona sun was already blazing as they made their way through the lively outdoor market that Klara had found. Stalls and shops filled the streets, offering a wide variety of goods—handcrafted jewelry, desert-themed trinkets, and, of course, plenty of souvenirs. Marie seemed captivated by everything, eagerly moving from vendor to vendor, while Klara kept pulling them toward different stands, her eyes lighting up each time she spotted something new.
Linus trailed behind them, half-listening to Klara's chatter. He wasn't really in the mood to shop, but he didn't mind being out in the fresh air. Mats, as usual, was his calm self, snapping photos here and there with a relaxed smile on his face. Linus caught him taking a candid shot of their mom inspecting a handmade ceramic plate, and it made him smile.
Around lunchtime, they decided to try a local café for a quick bite. Linus wasn't paying much attention to the conversation until Klara brought up another one of her plans for the day.
"I found this place that sells date-based snacks and desserts," she said, glancing at Linus with a smirk. "Apparently dates are a big thing here in Arizona. We should try it before we head back home."
"Dates?" Linus asked, raising an eyebrow. He had never thought much about dates, let alone date-based snacks.
"Yeah, they're supposed to be really good," Klara continued. "You might actually like them."
Linus shrugged, not feeling particularly picky. "Sure, why not?"
They finished their lunch and made their way to the small dessert shop Klara had found. It was tucked away on a quieter street, almost hidden among the larger buildings surrounding it. The smell of sweet, rich dates filled the air the moment they stepped inside. Klara was in her element, immediately ordering a variety of treats for the family to try—date shakes, date bars, and chocolate-covered dates among them.
Linus sipped on a date shake, surprised at how good it actually was. He didn't say anything, but Klara noticed the look on his face and laughed.
"See? Told you you'd like it," she teased, nudging him with her elbow.
He rolled his eyes but smiled. "Alright, alright. It's not bad."
***
By the time they returned to their rented house, the sun was beginning to set. The day had been long, filled with shopping and eating, but they were all content with how it had gone. Linus was already half-checked out, mentally preparing for their flight back to Sweden the next morning.
He was in the middle of stuffing clothes into his suitcase when Klara appeared at his door with a sly grin on her face.
"Linus, I got something for you," she said, hiding something behind her back.
He raised an eyebrow, sitting up straighter. "What is it?"
With a flourish, she pulled out an Arizona Blaze jersey, holding it out in front of him with a proud smile. The red and black colors of the jersey were bold, the team's logo—a blazing baseball—prominently displayed across the chest.
"Surprise!" she said, her voice filled with amusement. "Now you can remember your little baseball adventure."
Linus blinked, staring at the jersey in her hands. The Arizona Blaze? He vaguely recalled hearing about the team, though he hadn't paid much attention to baseball outside of his recent impromptu experience.
"You got me a baseball jersey?" he asked, half-amused, half-baffled.
Klara grinned even wider. "Yup! It's a joke, obviously. But it's also a nice memory, don't you think? Your first time playing baseball, here in Arizona."
He took the jersey from her, examining it with a small smile. "Yeah, I guess it's kind of cool."
"You're welcome," she said, giving him a playful wink before turning and heading out of the room.
Linus shook his head, folding the jersey carefully and packing it away in his suitcase. It was a thoughtful gift, in Klara's own quirky way, and he appreciated it more than he let on.
***
The next morning was chaotic, as expected. Marie's worry was in full swing, as she double- and triple-checked that they had packed everything. They left the house a few hours earlier than Linus thought was necessary, but he had long since learned not to argue. The airport was nearby, yet Marie acted like they were traveling to a different country just to catch their flight.
After they checked in and went through security, the family found a quiet lounge area where they could wait. Mats stretched out and quickly dozed off in one of the chairs, while Klara scrolled through her phone. Their mom headed off to get some coffee, leaving Linus with little to do.
Feeling restless, he decided to walk around the terminal. The airport was busy, but Linus wasn't in any rush. He wandered aimlessly through the crowds, his thoughts drifting. He wasn't focused on anything in particular, just enjoying the time to stretch his legs and people-watch.
Suddenly, as he rounded a corner near a row of shops, someone crashed into him. Hard. The impact knocked the breath out of him, and he collapsed, his head hitting the cold floor. Everything went black.
***
When Linus slowly regained consciousness, he felt groggy, his head pounding. The world around him was a blur of sounds and blurry faces. He blinked a few times, trying to make sense of his surroundings.
His mother was crouched beside him, her face lined with worry. "Linus! Are you okay?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
Klara hovered nearby, biting her lip in concern, while Mats stood off to the side, looking more serious than Linus had ever seen him.
"What happened?" Linus managed to croak out, his voice sounding weak.
"You fainted," his mother explained, her hand gently resting on his shoulder. "Someone ran into you, and you hit your head pretty hard. We've been worried sick."
Linus blinked, his mind still foggy. He could feel the dull ache in his head, but something else was nagging at him, a strange feeling like something was off. He rubbed his eyes, trying to shake it off when, suddenly, a strange, glowing screen appeared before his eyes.
He stared at it in shock, unsure of what he was seeing. His heart skipped a beat as the words came into focus.
[Linus Edberg]: Level 1
[Exp]: 0/100
[Physicals]: D
[Pitching]: F-
[Fielding]: F
[Batting]: F-
[Mentals]: E
Linus could barely breathe. His heart raced as he stared at the screen, unable to comprehend what he was looking at. It was like something out of a video game—but this was real life. Wasn't it?
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