The Under Review - Issue 4 | Summer 2021

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36 ERWINThe umpire started back for the plate, the catcher beside him. Ryan was alone on the mound. He was infull control of what happened next. He, and he alone, determined where the ball went.BB stepped into the batter’s box. The catcher crouched, setting up on the inside of the plate. Plausibledeniability. Ryan was going to have to decide.His eyes flickered between his new catcher and BB. BB’s bat danced up and down behind him, his eyeslocked on Ryan. Ryan gave a slow nod.He wound up, stepped forward and released the ball.THE UNDER REVIEW
37Trust FallCHRIST BELDENWe were out in the backyard, Richie and I, playing badminton. The boundaries were a couple of trees, astone walkway, and the edge of the brick patio. I was twelve and my brother fifteen. I don’t know why I wasplaying with him, given how competitive he could be, how ruthless and cruel. I’d wanted to go to thelibrary, but he badgered me until I gave in. He called me a bookworm and said I was afraid he’d kick my ass.All true. He always won, and not once did he take it easy on me. If I was stuck way over on one side of thecourt, he would line drive the shuttlecock into the grass at the other end, raise his arms, and crow likeJimmy Connors at the U.S. Open. When I won the occasional point, he’d curse and swing his racquet at animaginary version of his little brother—swish swish swish, and I was dead. Once, after I’d struggled to winthree points in a row, he launched his racquet at a tree and cracked it in half. Good thing the badminton setcame with four racquets because he broke another one by pounding it on the ground after I’d tied him at15. He beat me 21-15 that day after digging out the one remaining racquet from the closet.Today I was down 16-1, and Richie beamed with his typical combination of glee, superiority, and contempt.This being September, the sun had already made its rapid early-evening slide behind the house. Inside, ourparents sat in the kitchen with their after-dinner drinks, and I could easily imagine them snorting,between sips, at their older boy’s triumphant outbursts:“Yes!”“That’s what I’m talkin’ about!”“You suck!”Richie had won ten volleys in a row. But this time, after he served, I lunged and barely popped the birdieback over the net, and it landed in-bounds. 2-16.“You got lucky!”ISSUE 4 | SUMMER 2021
Page 1: ISSUE 4SUMMER 2021
Page 4 and 5: TABLE OF CONTENTSPOETRYA Fable Abou
Page 6 and 7: 6LETTER FROM THE EDITORSMuscle Memo
Page 8 and 9: 8 SHAPIROdad’s jaundice complexio
Page 10 and 11: 10adjust to new requirements. More
Page 12 and 13: 12Learning to DunkCHRIS ABBATEI gua
Page 14 and 15: 14Take OneERIN HILLA spindly-legged
Page 16 and 17: 16even if it didn’t square with t
Page 18 and 19: 18Church SoftballRYAN HARPERThose n
Page 20 and 21: 20Eye of the StormBRETT BIEBELThis
Page 22 and 23: 22A Real HumdingerKEITH BUZZARD “
Page 24 and 25: 24“Not sure how good an idea that
Page 26 and 27: 26 BUZZARD“Well, Paul, I don’t
Page 28 and 29: 28DavidANDREW GENTMichelangelo’s
Page 30 and 31: 30Bring on the boos, Ryan thought a
Page 32 and 33: 32“Christ, next time we gotta mak
Page 34 and 35: 34“Actually, it’s more like one
Page 38 and 39: 38My serve. I was pretty good at it
Page 40 and 41: 40I remembered this incident just b
Page 42 and 43: 42At Logan Avenue, I turned left, h
Page 44 and 45: 44 BELDENMy mother glanced over and
Page 46 and 47: 46 ELPHICKbeen in a real fight in a
Page 48 and 49: 48Interview with Maya WashingtonTER
Page 50 and 51: 50TH: You mention in the beginning
Page 52 and 53: 52performance poet, who is performi
Page 54 and 55: 54known stories in college football
Page 56 and 57: 56Racing DadKIMBERLY J. BROWNI tell
Page 58 and 59: 58 TAYLORDetroit Tigers World Serie
Page 60 and 61: 60When I was planning my trip, I br
Page 62 and 63: 62The RunnerMORROW DOWDLESleep’s
Page 64 and 65: 64Bonus DaysAMY ZARANEKIn basketbal
Page 66 and 67: 66Book ReviewJALEN EUTSEYBe Holding
Page 68 and 69: 68looking down at us,watching,as Do
Page 70 and 71: 70 CONTRIBUTOR NOTESCONTRIBUTOR NOT
Page 72 and 73: 72 CONTRIBUTOR NOTESALEX WELLS SHAP

The Under Review - Issue 4 | Summer 2021

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