I felt a sudden momentary sense of unreality, as if the play yard, with its black asphalt floor and its white base lines, were my entire world now, as if all the previous years of my life had led me somehow to this one ball game, and all the future years of my life would depend upon its outcome. I stood there for a moment, holding the glasses in my hand and feeling frightened. Then I took a deep breath, and the feeling passed. It's only a ball game, I told myself. What's a ball game?
The protagonist experiences a profound moment of existential reflection while watching a baseball game. In this instance, he feels that the play yard represents his entire existence, believing that his past and future hinge on the outcome of this match. This intense moment of unreality overwhelms him as he contemplates the significance of the game in his life.
However, as he grips the glasses in his hand, fear creeps in, prompting him to take a deep breath to restore his perspective. He reassures himself by downplaying the game's importance, reminding himself that it is just a game and questioning its true value in the grand schema of life.
