[legendsport]

Washington, DC: September 5, 1919:

The townhouse was very nice. Danny had few memories of living in the house in Brooklyn; his father told him it was similar - but larger. Thomas Potentas was gracious and formal, greeting them at the door and welcoming Claudia in flawless German. For her part, Claudia found the eccentric Potentas interesting and the fact that she could converse with him in German pleased her and drove Danny crazy (though he tried not to show it).

Rufus watched all this with a wry grin on his face. Alice had filled him in on her opinion about Danny and made Rufus promise to keep an eye on things lest her son find himself heartbroken.

Danny was fifteen, and typical of a boy that age, already believed he knew more than his stodgy old father. The only possible exception to this was baseball - Danny relied on Rufus for tips and the two had practiced on the field all summer long, honing Danny's game for the challenging league in which he'd be playing come spring.

The move had been smooth. Everyone had their own room. Claudia, now visibly pregnant (albeit only slightly), seemed happy enough and Danny spent a lot of time with her. Danny had been teaching her about baseball. To her credit, Claudia listened with interest - Rufus was not sure why, perhaps to show kindness to Danny, who loved the game as much as Rufus had at the same age. Regardless she now had a rudimentary grasp of the game, even promising she would attend Danny's games once her baby was old enough to go. The best guess was that the child would be born sometime in February. Though Rufus would return to Georgia in October, Claudia and Danny would remain in Washington with Thomas Potentas. Rufus would return in early February, with Alice, so they could be there for the arrival of their new grandchild.

Rufus found that his son was suddenly full of surprises. The first came on the day school began when he arrived home and announced that he had joined the football team.

"Football? Like Joe?" Claudia asked. Danny nodded.

"This is reminding me," Potentas put in. "Yes, yes. I am thinking we should be expanding our OSA to other sports. Do you not agree, Rufus?"

Rufus admitted he hadn't really thought about it, but it did make sense. Though if the OSA became a year-round operation, that could mean more time away from home and he wasn't sure he liked that.

That night at dinner, as Claudia and Potentas chatted in German, Danny once again got everyone's attention by asking, "Claudia, will you teach me German?"

Clearly surprised, Claudia asked him why he wanted to learn German. "Do you wish to become a diplomat, Daniel?" she asked with a friendly smile.

While he waited to hear his son's reply, Rufus wondered if the boy would be honest.

"Well... no, I hope to be a baseball - or maybe football - player." He paused and then said, in a rush of words, "Frankly, I'm jealous that Mr. Potentas can speak to you in German and I can't." he said. This statement stunned everyone. Rufus had to give the kid credit, he was bold. Just like Jimmy, he thought with more than a little surprise and a twinge of sadness.

After a few seconds of stunned silence, Claudia smiled and said, "Certainly. I would be happy to teach you." She nodded at Potentas and added, "And with Mr. Potentas here as well, you will have two fine teachers."

Potentas nodded his agreement. "Yes, yes, happy to assist." Danny politely thanked him, then frowned when Potentas continued, "I am also fluent in French and Russian, yes. Russian maybe not so useful here in America as in Poland."

Claudia laughed and said, "Ooh, Russian. I would advise against that one, Daniel!"

She and Potentas grinned at each other while Danny just looked confused, and to Rufus' eye: jealous.

Rufus shook his head and thought, 'Wait til Alice hears about this!'

-----------------------------------------------

Later that week, as Danny trudged home from school after football practice he saw a stranger knocking on the door of the townhouse.

He slowed down and appraised the man. He was tall, and looked strong, if a little thick in the waist. The suit he wore looked nice and fit well - therefore custom-tailored (he'd learned this from Rollie who had become something of a clothes-horse after meeting Francie York).

Danny reached the bottom of the steps. The guy was peering through the oval glass inset on the front door and lifted his fist to knock again.

"Something I can do for you, mister?" Danny asked.

The guy gave a small start and then turned. "Anyone ever tell you not to sneak up on people, kid?" he asked in a genial tone. He had a broad, open face, and looked friendly enough. Danny thought he looked a little familiar - maybe a ballplayer?

Danny also realized the guy wasn't that old - maybe about Rollie or Joe's age, and felt a wave of aggravation: the guy shouldn't have called him "kid" - he was fifteen, after all.

"This Rufus Barrell's house?" the man asked.

Danny nodded and said, "Yep. He's on his way to the World Championship Series. He's a baseball scout. I'm his son, Dan."

"Oh, I know who he is. I met him a few years back... in Cleveland."

The man stuck out a meaty paw and proceeded to crush Danny's hand. To his credit, Danny didn't show any (ok, much) reaction and squeezed back as best he could: though he was strong for his age, he was still growing and this guy had forearms thicker than Danny's thighs.

"Good to meet ya, Dan. I'm Max."

Danny asked, "What are you looking for my Pop for?"

"Well, I'm a ballplayer and I find myself in a situation that I thought maybe your father could help me with," Max replied. Behind him, the door swung open and Claudia stood there. She had an apron draped loosely over her torso, liberally speckled with flour. She'd been baking - something she frequently did these days.

Max turned around, blatantly eyed her up and down, grinned wolfishly and said, "Well, hello there missy. I'm Max Morris. What's your name?"

Claudia craned her neck and saw Danny behind the visitor. "Hello, Daniel," she said and then looked Morris in the eye and said coolly, "Good afternoon, Mr. Morris. I'm Claudia Barrell."

"Barrell, eh?" Morris said. He looked at Danny who was now climbing the steps and hooked a thumb over his shoulder at Claudia, "This can't be your sister, buster - she's got an accent, and it ain't from Georgia."

Danny shook his head and said tightly, "No, Claudia is my sister-in-law."

Morris frowned. "Married, eh?" He winked at Claudia, "Not happily, I hope?"

Claudia's frown deepened and she said, "My husband is dead."

Morris wasn't stupid - he now put one and one together quickly. "Oh... yeah, you must be Jimmy Barrell's wife." He chewed his lip, and looked uncomfortable as he finished, "Sorry to hear about what happened to him."

Claudia thanked him with frost in her voice.

Danny had now stepped around and stood in front of Claudia, facing Morris. "So... Max. My father will be home after the Series. Would you like to leave a message?"

Morris had noticed how Danny had stepped protectively in front of Claudia. He scowled and said, "Oh dry up, kid. Why don't you go do your homework or something so I can speak with the lovely widow Barrell here."

Danny bunched his hand into a fist. Morris had him by three inches and fifty pounds, but Danny had more than a bit of Joe in him and was ready to scrap.

Claudia grasped Danny by the shoulder and said, "I must apologize, Mr. Morris. I am not feeling well. Perhaps another time." She pulled Danny into the house and closed the door, leaving Morris standing on the porch, red-faced.

"Well, Max. That could have gone better," Morris said to himself as he started down the steps. He shrugged and said, "Too bad, she doesn't know what she's missing..."