[Iwerks University baseball field, late afternoon, before a game. As the Junior Shamrocks talk with one another, the coach taps their bat against the fence]
[Junior Shamrocks coach]: “Attention, attention. I have an announcement to make.” [the Junior Shamrocks fall silent] “There have been several complaints lately from spectators and even the Iwerks chancellor, about the games taking too long. And I and the other coaches know the reason for these complaints; they’re the times you go to the concession stands every time you make it to home base.”
[the Junior Shamrocks are nervous, they know what’s about to happen]
Nicole: [laughs nervously] “What? No it isn’t, there’s gotta be another reason.”
[Junior Shamrocks coach]: “No, there isn’t. Us coaches have every time last season as proof, when it took us upwards of five whole minutes to choose replacements for everyone in line for snacks or drinks, whenever it was time to play offense. Which is why, starting this season, I and the other coaches are implementing a new rule. The concession stands are now off-limits to players on game time. No exceptions.”
[the Junior Shamrocks groan and boo, some even curse out and throw pebbles at the coach]
Murphy: “You can’t do this! I need my between-innings soda!”
[Junior Shamrocks coach]: “If you must drink or eat on game time, you can order from the vending machines over by the bathroom, or get a free water from our water girl Suzie.”
Suzie: [holds up water bottle] “I’ve got water!”
Kate: “Oh please, like that’s a replacement for soda.”
Charlotte: “There’s nuthin’ in them machines but stale granola bars and barely-flavored water!”
[Junior Shamrocks coach]: “Yes, but they are healthier. And will waste less time than getting a hot dog and soda. You’re better off this way.” [the Junior Shamrocks continue to complain] “This is the way things are now. If you have a problem with it, you can be a spectator.” [The coach turns away, and the Junior Shamrocks fall silent. The players exchange looks with each other]
Charlotte: “Keine Sorge, Damen. Wir kommen dieses Verbot auf jeden Fall herum, so oder so.” Don’t worry, ladies. We are definitely going to get around this ban, one way or another.
Murphy: “Äh, Charlotte? Bist du sicher, dass Trainer weiß nicht, was du sagst? Du weißt, wir leben in eine Deuletsche Stadt.” Uh, Charlotte? Are you sure coach doesn’t know what you’re saying? You know we live in a Gerbilman town.
Charlotte: “Oh, bitte. Wenn sie es wüsste, sie wäre meine Idee abschalten.” Oh, please. If they knew, they’d be shutting my idea down.
[Later, during the game. It’s the first inning of the Junior Shamrocks vs. the Junior Vermilions, the latter of which includes Charlotte’s sister, Brooklynn, who is up to bat with two strikes against her, and two outs against her team. Charlotte, in her usual first basesow position, feels her stomach growl. She looks up at the concession stands]
Charlotte: “Come on, Brooklynn, fumble ’nuff to end this half of the inning.”
[Murphy throws the ball, and Brooklynn manages to hit it… right in Charlotte’s direction. It bounces through the grass once, before landing in Charlotte’s mitt. Charlotte smirks before stepping onto first base, with Brooklynn just a step away. A buzzer sounds from the scoreboard]
Brooklyn: “Wh –“
Charlotte: “Ye’re out, sis.” [blows raspberry]
[the Junior Shamrocks head to the benches as the Junior Vermilions take their place on the field]
[announcer]: “And sibling rivalry makes the field, as Charlotte Roth gets her own sister Brooklynn out! And with three outs for the Junior Vermilions, it’s now the bottom of the first, as the Junior Shamrocks go up to bat.”
[at the benches, Charlotte gets a water from Suzie and chugs it down]
[Junior Shamrocks coach]: “Roth! You’re up to bat first.”
Charlotte: [smashes water bottle against her head and throws it in the recycling bin] “Alrighty then.” [picks up bat and goes to the right-handed batting side of the plate]
[announcer]: “And the first Junior Shamrock to bat this evening is Charlotte Roth! Let’s see if she can show her sister how it’s done.”
[Brooklynn, playing third basesow position, rolls her eyes. Charlotte sticks her tongue out at her before getting into position to bat. The announcer continues to give commentary on what’s happening]
[announcer]: “Let’s see… Goetzbock is preparing her move. Anyone following Albaneigh county youth baseball would know how she favors fastballs.”
Charlotte: “Ye’re right, I do know.” [smirks, steps foward about an inch] “Silly Sawyer.”
[announcer]: “Aaaaand…” [Sawyer throws the baseball] “Goetzbock throws a slider…” [Charlotte grins, knowing she made the right move, and manages to hit the sweet spot. The ball goes flying in the air as Charlotte starts running the bases] “…and despite the disadvantage, Roth manages to send it flying! And it’s going, and it’s going…” [the ball disappears behind the trees as the crowd and the Junior Shamrocks cheer, and Charlotte runs the rest of the bases] “…and it’s gone! It’s a home run!”
Charlotte: “Latkes and grits, can’t believe I pulled dat off!”
[Charlotte steps on home base before running back to the benches. The Junior Shamrocks and the coach greet her with high-fives]
[Junior Shamrocks coach]: “Great opener there, Roth.”
Charlotte: “Heheh, yeah, I know. Hey, coach, ya mind if I use the Johann? I’ve drank like three bottles o’ water since the game started.”
[Junior Shamrocks coach]: “Sure, go ahead. But be back before the second inning starts.”
Charlotte: [tips hat forward and winks] “Surely!”
[Charlotte walks off in the direction of the bathrooms. She looks back and waits until she knows the coach isn’t looking, before swinging the door open and running off before it closes]
[In the concession stand area…]
Charlotte: “Haha, chump.” [beat] “Now where was it ‘gin?” [looks around for a few seconds, until she locks her eyes on the specific stand she’s after] “Aha! There it is. Who’s On Wurst?”
[Charlotte walks over to the Who’s On Wurst? stand. It is being ran by Shaun Ketcham, who is wiping the table as she comes]
Charlotte: “Howdy, Mr. Ketcham!”
Shaun: “Hello, Roth. Nice play down there. I take it you want your usual?”
Charlotte: [slaps four Washingtons onto the table] “Ya know I do. One grilled cheese hot dog, please! With mayonnaise!”
[Shaun takes the money as the scorecard buzzer sounds. Charlotte looks back at the board and sees that an out has been scored]
[announcer]: “And that’s the first out of the evening for the Junior Shamrocks!”
Charlotte: “Crap!“
Shaun: “Oh, look at that, your team scored an out.” [sets hot dog on the table] “Anyways, here’s your hot dog. Diabetes on a bun.”
Charlotte: “Thank ya kindly, sir.” [takes the hot dog] “Wish I could stay and talk, but ya know, I got eight more innin’s to get through. Maybe I’ll score ‘nother home run, though, ya never know. Byeeeee!” [runs off eating her hot dog] “Mmmph! Never fails.”
[about a minute and a half later, Charlotte is back in the hallway toward the benches. The buzzer sounds again as she eats the last bite]
Charlotte: “Perfect timin’.” [kicks bathroom door and takes a step toward it, before making her way toward the benches again]
[batter]: “I was like a step away.”
Charlotte: “Yeah, it’s always that first base that’s the hardest.” [sits down next to Murphy]
Murphy: “Du gibst nie Niederlage zu, machst du?” You never concede defeat, do you?
Charlotte: [gasps] “Wie wusstest du?!” How did you know?!
Murphy: “Na ja, du riechst nach Cheddar-Käse und Fett. Ich kenne diesen Geruch ziemlich gut; es ist der gegrillter Käse Hotdog von Wer ist auf Wurst?.” Well, you smell like cheddar cheese and grease. I know that smell quite well; it’s the grilled cheese hot dog from Who’s On Wurst?.
Charlotte: [sighs] “Na gut, du hast mich. Kannst du mir jedoch verdenken? Trainer ist auf einem Machttrip!” Okay, you got me. Can you blame me, though? Coach is on a power trip!
Murphy: “Ich stimme. Also was macht es schon, wenn wir wollen ein Hotdog oder eine Soda während das Spiel? Wir sind hungrig, und ein Lauf um das Feld verdient ein Trip nach die Konzessionsstände! Ich weiß, ich würde mir zu etwas gönnen, wäre ich schnell genug. Vielleicht ein Käseburger. Zweifach — nein. Dreifachdecker!” I agree. So what does it matter if we want a hot dog or a soda during the game? We’re hungry, and a run around the field earns a trip to the concession stands! I know I would treat myself to something, if I were fast enough. Maybe a cheeseburger. Double — no. Triple-decker!
Nicole: “What are you guys talking about?”
Murphy: [beat] “Nothing!”
Charlotte: “Uh, I’ll tell ya later, Nicky. If coach decides to put you battin’ after me in one of the innin’s.”
[later, during the bottom of the third inning]
[announcer]: “Goetzbock is planning her move against Roth. She’s winding up and…” [Sawyer throws the ball] “Looks like a forkball!” [Charlotte manages a hit] “And it’s a hit! Roth runs to first base as Farley tries to catch the ball… and it bounces. But she catches it on that bounce in time to throw it to Cooper… oh! But Roth steps on the plate just in time!”
[Cooper catches the ball]
Charlotte: “Face it, Cooper, we Junior Shamrocks are the better team.” [looks back at home base to see Nicole is up to bat] “Especially with Ms. 400 here.”
[announcer]: “And up next to bat is the star player of Junior Shamrocks, Ms. 400 herself, Nicooooole Wylerrrrr! [the crowd cheers]
Cooper: “Why does she always wear headphones during the game?”
Charlotte: “Nun o’ yer business, that’s why.” [to herself] “Come on, Nicole. Make this one of the best of yer 40%.”
[Sawyer throws a splitter, which Nicole hits on the sweet spot. The ball is lobbed into the air as the crowd cheers, and Nicole and Charlotte start running]
Charlotte: “Boo-yah! Ms. 400, that’s her!”
[announcer]: “And she hits it into the sky! And it’s going… and it’s going, and it’s gone! Two points for the Junior Shamrocks!”
[the crowd continues cheering as Charlotte and Nicole run the bases. As they run, Charlotte notices that Brooklynn isn’t playing third. Charlotte and Nicole touch home base before running back to the benches, where the Junior Shamrocks high-five them]
[Junior Shamrocks coach]: “Nice play, Wyler. What’d we do without our Ms. 400?”
Nicole: [blushes, laughs] “You’d be losing, that’s what you’d be doing. Now, I’d love to stay and celebrate yet another successful hit, but I need to use the bathroom. I’ve been drinking a lot of water.”
Charlotte: “Uh, yeah, so do I. I’ve also been drinkin’ buckets.”
[Junior Shamrocks coach]: “Very well then. Be back before the start of the fourth.”
[Charlotte and Nicole walk off into the hallway. They pass the bathroom door]
Charlotte: “Nicky, why didn’t ya punch the door open?”
Nicole: “What, am I supposed to?”
Charlotte: “Ya gotta make it sound convincin’ to coach we’re in the bathroom, Nicky, come on.”
Nicole: [rolls eyes] “Alright.” [punches door before running off with Charlotte]
[In the concession stand area again]
Nicole: “Wait, we’re at the concession stands? But coach said we couldn’t!”
Charlotte: “You care what coach thinks? I’m tellin’ you, ya ain’t hurtin’ anybody treatin’ yerself. Now go an’ treat yerself.”
[Nicole looks around, until she sees a Sbarro stand. She smirks]
[a few minutes later. Charlotte is having another grilled cheese hot dog, while Nicole is eating an acorn pizza]
Nicole: “A lovely acorn pizza, just for me. Tastes real good, Roth, you oughta try it.”
Charlotte: “I’m sure it does taste good to a rodent like yerself, Nicole, but ya know I prefer bugs on my pizza. Bein’ an insectivore and — “
[As they step down the stairs, Nicole and Charlotte are surprised by the sight of Brooklynn leaning against the wall, arms crossed and glaring at them. The two Junior Shamrocks hide their food]
Brooklynn: “So! You’ve been sneaking to the concession stands!”
Charlotte: “No!”
Nicole: “Yes!” [eats the rest of her pizza, minus the crust, which she stares at for a moment] “This looks like a granola bar, doesn’t it?” [beat] “It does.” [runs off]
Charlotte: “I was just… uh… goin’ wit’ ‘er. She was hungry for pizza.”
Brooklynn: “And you were hungry for that grilled cheese hot dog from Who’s On Wurst?, that tastes like acid and ash.”
Charlotte: [beat] “No.”
Brooklynn: [steps forward and grabs Charlotte by the shoulder, then points at said hot dog] “Then what’s that, hmm?”
Charlotte: “I’m hungry, okay? And it don’t taste like acid and ash to me!” [beat] “Wait a minute, what’re you doing back ‘ere? You been goin’ to the concession stands yerself?”
Brooklynn: “No. Because I want to follow the rules.” [kicks an empty bag of potato chips aside]
Charlotte: “What is that?”
Brooklynn: “Some bag, who cares. What, you worried about plastic? This isn’t the sixties, you know those things are made out of leaves. And not toxic chemicals.”
[Charlotte picks up the bag and stretches it out]
Charlotte: “Sour cream an’ onion tater chips.” [takes a close look at Brooklynn’s face] “Is that where the green and yeller specks ’round yer mouth come from?” [picks up her right hand and examines it] “And on yer hand?”
Brooklynn: [beat] “Well, you’re breaking the rules too, you’re not in any position to judge me.”
Charlotte: [beat] “You ain’t in any position to judge me either! In fact, ye’re worse fer actin’ high ‘n’ mighty ’bout it!”
[the buzzer sounds]
Brooklynn: “Better eat that hot dog if you don’t want to get kicked off the team.”
Charlotte: “You better wash the oil off yer hands, if ya don’t want them to be slippery on the bat.”
[Brooklynn walks off. Charlotte’s eyes dart around to make sure nobody is coming, before scarfing down the hot dog]
Charlotte: “Mmm. Always delish.”
[Later, during the bottom of the sixth inning]
[Junior Shamrocks coach]: “Alright, I need to go to the bathroom.” [looks out to the field; Charlotte is on third and Nicole is on first] “Well, it’s not quite a grand slam, but I’m feeling lucky. Grubenstein! You go up.” [walks off]
Murphy: “Really? Me with the point-two-oh… okay.” [picks up bat and walks to the right-handed batting side of the plate]
[announcer]: “Up next to bat, surprisingly, is Murphy Grubenstein! A pitcher at bat? Coach must be feeling lucky, because nothing short of a home run is gonna get her anywhere! Can she show that a being a slug can be a good thing, or will she taste the salt?” [Murphy rolls her eyes and grimaces. Sawyer throws a forkball, which Murphy hits on the sweet spot, launching the ball into the air. She, Charlotte, and Nicole start running] “And this slug is about to go on the moooooooooove! And that ball is going, and it’s going… [the ball disappears behind the trees as the crowd cheers, and the Shamrock Triad runs the rest of the bases] “And it! Is! Gone! My goodness, Grubenstein has hit a home run! It was a gamble, and the Junior Shamrocks has won themselves, three points!”
[Charlotte and Nicole touch home base within ten seconds of each other, and return to the benches to the applause of the rest of the Junior Shamrocks]
Charlotte: “Hold on, hold on. Let’s wait fer Murphy.”
[The Junior Shamrocks fall silent. After about thirty seconds of waiting, Murphy touches home and returns to the bleachers, resuming the cheering, and bringing on the high-fives. The Triad take off their hats as they bow]
Nicole: “Alright, now, let’s go to the co… aaaaan. The can. The bathroom.”
Murphy, Charlotte: “Right!”
[The Triad walk down the hallway to the concession stands. Charlotte, Nicole, and Murphy, in that order, push the door open as they walk past it]
[In the concession stand area, once again]
Murphy: “I don’t know about you guys, but I’m feeling like a hot dog from Who’s On Wurst?”
Nicole: “So am I!”
Charlotte: “Me too! Let’s go…” [locks eyes on Who’s On Wurst; her face changes to a suspicious glare when she sees two familiar-looking ines] “There.”
Nicole: [beat] “Charlotte?”
Charlotte: “Hold up a minute.”
[Charlotte walks over to Who’s On Wurst?, with Nicole and Murphy following close behind. As they get in line, Charlotte’s suspicions are confirmed, angering her. Nicole and Murphy are also angry when they see who the two ines are]
Triad: “Coach?!”
[Junior Shamrocks coach]: [turns back to see the Triad] “What are you girls doing here? I made it very clear you are not to go to the concession stands during the game!”
Shaun: “Uh… what’s going on here?”
Murphy: “But it’s okay for you to?!”
Nicole: “Yeah, you’re a hypocrite!”
Murphy: “What kinda example do ya think ye’re setting?”
[Junior Shamrocks coach]: “I — Uh.”
[Junior Vermilions coach]: “You know, they have a point.”
[Junior Shamrocks coach]: [beat] “They’re still violating the rules!”
[Junior Vermilions coach]: “But what does that say about us, if we can’t honor them ourselves?” [beat] “As leaders and role models, we have more of a responsibility to follow the rules, not less or even the same. More.“
Charlotte: “Yeah, and ya know, I’ve actually been to the concession stand this evenin’, two times before this.”
Nicole: “And I’ve been here once.”
Charlotte: “So don’t even give us that ‘the games take too long’ excuse. I’ve had time to come here, eat a grilled cheese hot dog, and be back in time fer the next half-innin’. Both times. An’ I can guarantee ya I’ll be back in time fer innin’ seven after this third ‘un!”
Nicole: “And my hot dog too!”
Murphy: “And mine!”
Charlotte: “As a matter o’ fact, if ya ask me, coach, ya owe us an apology fer implimentin’ this ban. Seein’ as ya couldn’t even follow it yerself. And so do you, my sister’s coach!”
[Junior Shamrocks coach], [Junior Vermilions coach]: [beat] “Sorry.”
Murphy: “No, no, no. That’s not enough. Show it.”
Shaun: [beat. Shaun goes bug-eyed with a goofy smile fitting of a mental patient] “REEEEETAAAAAIL!”
[later, after the game]
[announcer]: “And that’s the game, folks! The Junior Shamrocks are the winners with 25 points, and 16 for the Junior Vermilions!”
[the Junior Shamrocks and Junior Vermilions leave the baseball field together, all eating their own grilled cheese hot dog. Charlotte and Brooklynn walk together]
Charlotte: “O’course the real winner tonight, is morality.” [takes a bite of her hot dog and burps. She and Brooklynn laugh]
Entry number seven in the National [thing] Day series! This month, I’m celebrating the day of one of my favorite foods… that I eat the vegetarian version of. National Hot Dog Day, with an artwork and ficlet themed around… well, hot dogs. But also a place associated with hot dogs, the baseball field. I’ve always known that the Shamrock Triad/Baseball Pentad, of course being baseball players, should have as their favorite foods, the kind of stuff that’s commonly found at baseball fields. Like pretzels, popcorn, and of course, hot dogs. And this was the first time I’ve gotten to explore that idea.
The grilled cheese hot dog with mayonnaise that Charlotte orders throughout the ficlet, and is depicted in the artwork above, is actually based on… my own recent eating habits. I’ve had vegan cheese slices at my place lately, and I’ve been using them on my vegan hot dogs, tearing them up so they can be spread throughout the buns. The cheese of course melts in the microwave as the hot dogs themselves cook, and then once they’re out, I put mayonnaise on them. Mayonnaise on a hot dog actually tastes quite good, y’all should try it. I dare say I like mayonnaise on a hot dog as much as I like the standard mustard.
Not gonna lie, I love how the background on this thing turned out. The colors actually came out looking quite distorted at first; I actually had to invert them so that they’d look more natural. Imagine that; the asset you’re looking at is actually inverted from what I saw when I was making this. And then I put my signature fresh pasta effect over it. Again, I’m not opposed to making fresh pasta out of my own assets.
As for the ficlet, this marks my first time writing dialogue in the language I’ve been studying since January of this year, German. I feel confident enough now in my fluency in the language, at least with writing, that I can come up with dialogue for my German/Gerbilman-descended characters to say. And in this case, it’s Charlotte and Murphy who get scenes of them speaking German/Gerbilman. I’ll also say right now to not expect scenes of Nicole speaking German/Gerbilman; as I’ve said before, the Wylers are French, not German. So it’d be French that she knows. I’m more open to Wendy speaking German/Gerbilman, though. She’s more open to learning new languages than Nicole is, particularly languages that aren’t part of her background.
And that’s all for this artwork and ficlet. But not all I have to say, as once again, I’d like to plug this advertisement for a GoFundMe, to a project I’m personally involved in. It’s another graphic novel about being an autistic person, and it’s called Adele: Preteen Music Wiz.
Preteen Music Wiz comes to us from my Australian friend Sam Bateman (@NNewt84 on Twitter), a cool guy who you should go drop a follow if you’ve got an account there. I’ve read the script Sam has written for the graphic novel, and I’ve inked and colored a few pages for him. And what he has laid out, I believe has real potential to become a classic in the neurodivergent community. But he needs financial help making this comic become a reality; his goal is $5000 AUD, which is just under $3400 in American dollars. Donations to his campaign of any amount would be much appreciated. But if you don’t have the money to donate, then the least you could do, is share his campaign with as many people as you can.
You won’t just be helping him or me by donating to and sharing this campaign, you’d be helping the autistic community as a whole, tell the stories we want to tell.
And that’ll be all this time. If you liked this artwork and the ficlet, then drop me a follow on this blog, and on my socials, linked below. Also remember to share and donate to the GoFundMe for Sam’s graphic novel. And until next time, take care, stay safe, support an Asimovian amendment for AI, and have a good rest of your National Hot Dog Day.
Twitter (Main): https://twitter.com/StormyAdlerPoG
Twitter (Art): https://twitter.com/TheOfficialOTOG
Instagram: www.instagram.com/phoenix_of_g…
Newgrounds: https://phoenixofgrunvale.newgrounds.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXj2NzDa8kzZ5mcliw4vT_w
Discord: Contact me by my tag (phoenixofgrunvale) to add me as a friend.
Grunvale/OTOG is owned by me. You’re free to draw fanart or write fanfics of it, as long as you credit me as the creator of the series.
This artwork was made at a resolution of 5076×2160 (aspect ratio 2.35:1).
The Gallery of Stormy Adler 