Man Out at First Read online

  To Kimberley Marie, Evan Andrew,

  Paul Michael, and Julia Catherine

  Copyright

  Text copyright © 1993 by Matthew F. Christopher

  Illustrations copyright © 1993 by Ellen Beier

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO PART OF THIS BOOK MAY BE REPRODUCED IN ANY FORM OR BY ANY ELECTRONIC OR MECHANICAL MEANS, INCLUDING INFORMATION STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEMS, WITHOUT PERMISSION IN WRITING FROM THE PUBLISHER, EXCEPT BY A REVIEWER WHO MAY QUOTE BRIEF PASSAGES IN A REVIEW.

  Hachette Book Group

  237 Park Avenue

  New York, NY 10017

  Visit our website at www.HachetteBookGroup.com

  First eBook Edition: December 2009

  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

  ISBN: 978-0-316-09490-0

  Contents

  Copyright

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  1

  “Wish me luck, Mom!” Turtleneck Jones called as he headed toward the door.

  “Good luck, tall guy!” Mrs. Jones called back.

  Turtleneck grinned. His mom always said that just before he went out to play baseball. He was tall for an eight-year-old. That's why Coach Parker had him play first base for the Peach Street Mudders.

  He grabbed his glove and ran outside. At this time of year, nothing in this world was better than playing baseball!

  He had just stepped off the porch when he heard a moan from the house next door. He looked over and saw his neighbor, Mr. Ebenezer Shaw, clutching his leg in pain.

  “Wait a minute, Mr. Shaw!” Turtleneck cried. “I'll be right there!”

  He rattled down the remaining steps and rushed next door. He saw the problem right away. Mr. Shaw's foot had fallen through a rotten part of his porch steps.

  “Doggone step!” Mr. Shaw grunted. “Been meaning to fix it, but kept putting it off… putting it off. You should always take care of problems right away, Theodore.”

  “I guess so,” Turtleneck said. He bent down to knock some of the broken pieces of wood aside so that Mr. Shaw could pull out his leg.

  After a few minutes the old man's foot was free. Turtleneck helped him into the house. The Peach Street Mudders were playing the Joy Street Devils that afternoon and he didn't want to be late. Coach Parker didn't tolerate lateness. But Turtleneck had to make sure Mr. Shaw was okay before he headed to the baseball diamond.

  “Thanks, Theodore,” Mr. Shaw said as he sat down in an easy chair and leaned his white cane against his leg. “I might have been stuck there all afternoon if you hadn't come along.”

  Turtleneck wondered why Mr. Shaw, a blind man, would want to live all by himself in this big, old house. Turtleneck's mom had told him that Mr. Shaw was very independent. But it was dangerous, Turtleneck thought.

  Turtleneck bent down to give Mr. Shaw's foot a good look. “I don't see any bleeding or swelling, Mr. Shaw. Does anything hurt?”

  “Nah.” Mr. Shaw waved his hand. “I feel fine. Just a bit foolish.” He pointed toward his wall of books. “Those books have taught me how to fix things, like leaky sinks and broken toasters.” Mr. Shaw laughed. “Looks like I'll have to re-read the one on how to fix porch steps! Maybe you'd like to help me repair that hole?”

  “I don't really know that much about carpentry, but I'll try,” Turtleneck said. Then he glanced up at the clock on the wall. “Yikes!” He quickly jumped to his feet and grabbed his glove.

  “I'm going to be late for my baseball game, Mr. Shaw! See you later!”

  2

  Turtleneck ran all the way to the baseball field. By the time he got there, the game had already started.

  Coach Parker was sitting at the end of the dugout with the substitute members of the team. The rest of the Peach Street Mudders were out on the field. Turtleneck went over to apologize. “Sorry, Coach. I—I had to help a guy. His foot was stuck.”

  The coach looked at him with a raised eyebrow. “That's a new one. Grab some pine, T.”

  Turtleneck sat down next to Tootsie Malone, the outfield substitute, and looked at the scoreboard. It was already the bottom of the first inning. Then he glanced at the field and saw men on second and third.

  “There's only one out so far. And they've already got one run,” Tootsie said. “Jake Avery belted a homer.”

  “Rats,” said Turtleneck. Jake Avery was the Joy Street Devils' leadoff hitter.

  Sitting on the bench was a pain. Turtleneck could remember a time not too long ago when he sat on the bench more often than he played. New guys on a team—especially if they didn't have much experience—had to expect that. The better players always started first, then were replaced after three or four innings, provided there were enough subs to replace them.

  Sparrow Fisher, the Mudders' left-handed pitcher, threw three strikes to Phil Hanson for the second out. Then little Sammy Mc Fall hit a pop-up to third base.

  One inning was over and the Joy Street Devils led, 1–0.

  Leading off for the Mudders was T.V. Adams. The husky third baseman had a knack for guessing where a lot of the opposing batters would hit a pitch. Turtleneck hoped T.V. would come up with a good hit himself this time.

  “Strike!” yelled the ump.

  Then crack! T.V. sent the ball soaring into left center field. He ran past first base, then stopped at second for a double.

  Nick Chong got on first base when the Devils' shortstop missed a hot grounder. T.V. ran to third. He was in a good spot to score and tie the game.

  But he never did. Alfie Maples popped up to the pitcher and Bus Mercer struck out. Rudy Calhoun walked to load the bases, but Sparrow grounded out to end the half inning.

  The Joy Street Devils' fans cheered and whistled.

  Turtleneck hoped the coach would tell him to take Bob Lopine's place at first. But the coach just yelled to the team to get out there and “play some heads-up ball!”

  He's probably forgotten that I'm here, Turtleneck thought. Why did Mr. Shaw have to get his foot caught in that rotten old step, anyway?

  The Devils' Frankie Bass blasted the first pitch for a double. Then Stretch Cantor hit a single through second and Frankie slid into home for another run. Reggie Mize flied out to left field. Two more singles resulted in another run before the Mudders could get the Devils out. Joy Street Devils 3, Peach Street Mudders 0.

  At the top of the third, Barry “hit-away kid” McGee, the Mudders' best hitter, walloped a double over the shortstop's head. José Mendez stepped into the batter's box and Bob Lopine took his place in the warm-up area. José took two strikes and then hit a double, an unusual thing for him. Barry made it home. Devils 3, Mudders 1.

  I might as well have stayed home, Turtleneck thought.

  Then he heard someone call his name.

  3

  “Turtleneck!” Coach Parker called again. “You're pinch-hitting for Bob.”

  “You heard him, Turtleneck,” said Nick Chong, grinning. “Get a hit up there, okay?”

  Turtleneck grabbed a bat and warmed up.

  “Hey, Turtleneck! Think quick!” Nick called.

  Turtleneck spun around quickly. He reached out his hands just in time to catch the batting helmet Nick had tossed to him. He grinned at Nick and put the helmet on.

  Then he stepped into the batter's box. He took two strikes, stepped out of the box for a few seconds, then took two balls.

  The next pitch was right
down the middle. Crack! Turtleneck sent the ball soaring to right center field. He raced around the bases for a stand-up triple. His heart pounded with joy.

  José had made it home on Turtleneck's triple. The Mudders were only one run behind.

  “Hey, man! You did it!” Nick called out to Turtleneck.

  Rudy echoed, “Yeah, good thing you showed up today!”

  “I didn't know you had it in you, 1'!” Bus Mercer yelled. “You're full of surprises today, aren't you?”

  Yeah, thought Turtleneck. Now if T.V. can only knock me home!

  T.V. did just that with a line drive between first and second.

  As he sat down, Turtleneck could hear the Mudders' fans cheering and whistling.

  He turned his attention back to the game and saw Nick Chong and Alfie both strike out. A pop-up by Bus Mercer ended the Mudders' turn at bat. The score was tied, 3–3.

  At a nod from Coach Parker, Turtleneck grabbed his glove and headed out to first base. He felt good as he warmed up with the rest of the infield.

  Barry McGee caught a long fly ball for the first out. Then little Sammy McFall walked. Man on first, one out.

  Frankie Bass hit a dribbler to Sparrow. Sparrow scooped it up and quickly tossed it to Bus covering second.

  Sammy was out, but Frankie, a fast runner, had almost made it to first. Turtleneck lowered his glove and waited for the next batter.

  Then, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a blur of motion.

  A split second later, a fast-moving baseball smacked hard into Turtleneck's chest!

  Pain shot through him as he staggered back. For a moment he couldn't breathe. He heard yells and gasps from the fans.

  All of a sudden, everything seemed to go black.

  4

  “Turtleneck? Can you hear me, son?”

  Turtleneck opened his eyes slowly. He looked up into the worried face of Coach Parker. He struggled to get to his feet.

  “Whoa there. Just take your time now,” Coach warned.

  He helped Turtleneck over to the dugout. “You look a little better, T, but I think you'd better grab a seat for now.” He handed him an ice pack. “Here, put this on your chest. The cold will keep the swelling down.”

  Bus Mercer pounded his fist into his glove and walked out of the dugout. The rest of the team shuffled their feet as they looked at Turtleneck. None of them had ever seen anyone pass out before.

  Turtleneck felt his face turn red. What a dope I am! he thought. Only 'fraidy cats faint!

  Still, the memory of the baseball hitting his chest made him feel sick. It hurt a bit when he breathed in, too. He leaned back against the dugout wall and held the ice pack to his front.

  Coach Parker gave Turtleneck one last look over, then yelled, “Play ball!” Jack Livingston, one of the regular infield subs, ran to cover first base.

  Turtleneck squirmed uneasily on the bench. He wanted to be back in the game more than anything, but it was too late now. He didn't have a second chance. Not today. He'd not only been late to the game, he'd been benched after his first play in the field.

  I should have known Bus would try for the double play, Turtleneck thought. I should have waited to see him toss the ball back to Sparrow. Now I'm back on the bench again. I wonder if the guys think this is where I should stay for good.

  Turtleneck watched Bus throw the ball to Jack for an easy out at first. The inning ended with the score still 3–3.

  Rudy Calhoun was up first for the Mudders at the top of fourth. He was also the first out.

  Sparrow took two balls, then hit a single over the shortstop's head. The Devils' pitcher walked Barry McGee. Then José Mendez struck out. Two outs, two men on.

  Jack Livingston stepped to the plate. He let the first pitch go by for a ball. Then he clobbered the second pitch for a double into right field. Both Sparrow and Barry scored. Cheers rose up from the Mudders' fans. Jack brushed the dirt from his pants and grinned.

  Turtleneck watched the scorekeeper change the number beside the Mudders' name from 3 to 5 and grinned, too.

  Coach Parker has to like that! he thought.

  Then he had another thought. What if Coach Parker thinks Jack is good enough to replace me for the rest of the season?

  Turtleneck's thoughts were interrupted when T.V. struck out, ending the inning.

  The Joy Street Devils were two runs behind and seemed to be losing steam. Their first three batters went down swinging to end the fifth inning.

  The Mudders didn't do much better. Nick popped out, and Alfie ticked two foul balls, then struck out.

  Then Bus hit a line drive straight at the Devils' pitcher. But at the last second, the pitcher's glove shot up and he caught it for the last out.

  The last inning was just as uneventful, and the game ended happily for the Mudders. Final score, Mudders 5, Devils 3.

  Turtleneck rose slowly from the bench. Well, at least my goof-up didn't keep us from winning, he thought with a sigh.

  Still, he wanted to apologize to Bus for having muffed the double play. He glanced around and saw Bus strapping his glove to his bicycle rack. Turtleneck started toward him.

  But before he took two steps, Nick and Rudy called over to him. They wanted to know what had made him faint.

  “I thought that only happened if you saw a ghost,” joked Nick.

  “Yeah,” Rudy joined in. “Or did you get frightened by a mouse, T?”

  “Aw, knock it off,” mumbled Turtleneck. He tossed the ice pack into the trash and picked up his glove.

  “Hey, Turtleneck! Think quick!”

  Nick's call startled Turtleneck. Instead of spinning and catching whatever Nick was tossing to him, he threw up his hands and ducked. A piece of ice arced over his head and landed on the ground in front of him. The laughter he heard coming from behind him was cut short by Coach Parker.

  “Okay, boys, that's enough. Turtleneck's had a hard day.” To Turtleneck he said, “Come on, I'll give you a lift home. I want to let your mother know what happened.”

  As Turtleneck got into the coach's car, he saw Bus watching him. Turtleneck waved. Bus gave him a funny look and then hopped on his bike and pedaled away fast.

  5

  When Mrs. Jones heard what had happened, she insisted that Turtleneck go to bed immediately. She fixed him a light dinner and tucked him in when he was through eating.

  Turtleneck had trouble falling asleep that night. He replayed the moment just before Bus threw the ball over and over—only, in his mind, he caught the ball and made the double play. He kept remembering Nick and Rudy's comments and the odd look on Bus's face after the game.

  I guess I really let everyone down, he thought dismally. Finally, he fell asleep.

  The next sound Turtleneck heard was his father's voice calling him to breakfast.

  “I hear you got the wind knocked out of you yesterday, T,” his father said when he entered the kitchen. “Bus Mercer must have some throwing arm! Does it hurt much?”

  “Not anymore,” Turtleneck replied with a yawn. He pointed to his chest. “But there's a big bruise right here.” He poured himself a bowl of cereal and began eating.

  The phone rang. Turtleneck answered it.

  “Hi, Theodore, this is Mr. Shaw,” said a familiar voice. “Feel up to learning a bit about carpentry this morning? I've decided to fix that step right away. Now that it's a hole instead of just a weak spot, it really needs to be taken care of.”

  “I've got baseball practice this morning. But I'll come over this afternoon if you want,” Turtleneck replied.

  “Thanks, Theodore. I knew I could count on you.”

  Turtleneck was just finishing his breakfast when the doorbell rang. When he opened the door, Nick Chong and Rudy Calhoun were waiting on the other side.

  “Hey, Turtleneck! Ready to go to practice?” Rudy asked.

  “We told the coach to get rid of all the ghosts and mice so you won't faint again today,” Nick said.

  Turtleneck felt his face turn red. These
guys aren't ever going to let me live that down, he thought.

  He got his glove and told his parents where he was going. The three boys headed for the diamond.

  “You sure looked weird when you passed out yesterday,” Nick said. “Your eyeballs went all funny and you just sort of fell over.”

  “Bus looked pretty funny, too! Like he couldn't believe you tried to catch the ball with your chest!” Rudy laughed.

  Turtleneck looked quickly at the two boys. I guess Bus does blame me for messing up the double play, he thought. He straightened his cap and added silently, Well, I guess I'll just have to show him—and Coach Parker—what I'm really made of!

  Most of the team was already warming up by the time Turtleneck, Rudy, and Nick reached the baseball diamond. Jack Livingston was at first base. He stretched out his glove and caught a throw from Bus easily.

  Coach Parker called Turtleneck over to him. “You don't look any worse for your injury, T, but I'm going to keep Jack at first for now,” he said. “Run a couple laps around the field to warm up. Then you can hit some to the infield.”

  The outfielders were already running around the outside of the field. Turtleneck joined them. He jogged slowly.

  Coach Parker must be afraid I'll mess up again, he thought dismally.

  Turtleneck finished one loop around the outfield. He was about to begin another lap when Coach Parker called to him to pick up a bat.

  “Okay, T, just knock in a few grounders for now. Run the bases, too. I want the infield to feel like it's a game situation.”

  Sparrow Fisher was on the mound. He wound up and threw a fast pitch. Turtleneck watched the ball come toward him—and suddenly he jumped back out of the batter's box. The ball just missed him.

  “Sorry, T!” yelled Sparrow. “That one got away from me.”

  Shaken, Turtleneck stepped back into the box. His mind raced. What if that ball had hit me? he thought. Would I have fainted again? The guys would never stop razzing me if I did! And Coach won't keep a 'fraidy cat at first, that's for sure.