THE BENCH WARMER

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=215 BGCOLOR="#999999" TEXT="#080000" background="0440eb82ermwup.jpg"> <bR> <bR> <div> ''ALONE''</div> <div>  <embed src="HTMLobj-493/alone.mid" autostart="false" width="145" height="70">  </div> <div> <B>SOUND CONTROL</B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="guestbook.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="GUESTBOOK">GUESTBOOK</A></div> <bR> <div> BACK TO :</div> <div> <A HREF="ideals.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ideals"><B>''IDEALS'' SELECT</B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="ideals.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ideals"><B>PAGE''</B></A></div> <bR> <div> <B>*****</B></div> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="food for thought 3 homepage"><B>HOME PAGE-3</B></A></div> <bR> <div> <B>*****</B></div> </td> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=95 style=" border-bottom: 1px solid #000000;" BGCOLOR="#999999" TEXT="#080000" background="043b85f1ermwup.jpg"> <bR> <div> <B>FOOD FOR THOUGHT IDEALS</B></div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=385 width="100%" colspan=2 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>THE BENCH WARMER</I></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><B>THE BENCH WARMER</B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="320" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 2651 WIDTH="316"><div> <B>PROLOGUE:</B></div> <div> <B>"In every life some rain must fall", an adage old and true,</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>even in a game of ball, here's one I bring to you:</B></div> <div> <B>There was a lad named "Mac" McKee,</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>who "rode the bench" anxiously:</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>who thought his play would be a cinch,</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>but found himself upon the bench</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>to delve in misery.</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>* * * *</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>As times revolved for things to solve,</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>he missed the schemes his team involved,</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>and had the heart and skills galore,</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>but "rode the bench" 'til he was sore,</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>but still held his resolve. </B></div> <div> <B>* * * *</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>So inch by inch he "warmed the bench",</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>and pined in strong desire;</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>baseball was his middle name,</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>oh how he yearned to play this game</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>that set his heart afire!</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>* * * *</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>So there he sat to feel appall;</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>felt betrayed by each and all;</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>bore excitement baseball brings,</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>and like an actor in the wings,</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>awaiting his first call.</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>* * * *</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>Along and long, some things went wrong, </B></div> <div> <B>and games they lost away;</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>no-hitters tossed, and errors cost,</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>and woeful team were they.</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>* * * *</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>Then came the time when on the line, </B></div> <div> <B>fate would face each man;</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>a championship would bring them fame</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>if they could win this final game,</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>so then the game began.</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>* * * *</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>Well, eight innings passed,</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>then came the last... with score.. down 4 to 5;</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>when teammate "walks' amid the squawks </B></div> <div> <B>of "fans" whom came "alive"!</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>* * * *</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>The scoreboard shows there are two outs,</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>with pitcher due to hit;</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>and time has come to find someone </B></div> <div> <B>to ease the coach's fit!</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>* * * *</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>So Coach McNapp peers 'neath his cap</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>to find a man to bat;</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>someone astute to substitute, </B></div> <div> <B>for two more runs they must compute,</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>but who can do just that?</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>* * * *</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>Now "Mac" McKee thought not that he</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>would be that lucky guy,</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>but Coach McNapp bade McKee aft, </B></div> <div> <B>where they came eye to eye.</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>* * * *</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>The coach then spoke with brilliant stroke, </B></div> <div> <B>" Kid you're it! You're fine and fit,</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>I've saved you for this clinch, </B></div> <div> <B>I need you now for this one pinch,</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>so fetch a bat and hit!" </B></div> <div> <B>* * * *</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>In timely rate "Mac" taps the plate </B></div> <div> <B>then came the first big swing,</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>the first ball that the pitcher threw,</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>like a streak into the blue, </B></div> <div> <B>out and o'er the fence it flew,</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>and "Mac" became a hero of the team! </B></div> <div> <B>* * * *</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Epilogue:</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>There is a moral to this tale</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>when sorrows come your way;</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>but for God's own heaven's sakes;</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>don't give-up and "pull up stakes";</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>just turn to God and pray.</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>* * * *</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>One must stay upon the course,</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>in all we do must show remorse,</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>bear the pain in Jesus' name;</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>show the world we can restrain;</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>by keeping woes at bay.</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>* * * *</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>And eventhough your heart, it breaks,</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>"warm the bench" with all it takes;</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>your chance will come to win the game! </B></div> <div> <B>* * * *</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>By William E. 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