Steal That Base! Read Online Free Page A

stand.
    â€œThat’s all the Finches want?”
    â€œYep.”
    â€œThey’re named for birds and they eat like birds,” she said. “Anything for you?”
    â€œSure.” I remembered what Mom had told me. “I need something halfway good for me.”
    â€œWe have tropical fruit kebabs.”
    â€œTropical fruit ke-whats?”
    â€œTropical fruit kebabs. They’re new.” She took a skewer from the cooler and handed it to me. It had pineapple chunks and bananas and jumbo marshmallows and some orange-colored fruit that wasn’t oranges.
    â€œWhat’s that?” I pointed at one of the orangey chunks.
    â€œMango.”
    I nibbled at a piece of mango. “It’s good.”
    â€œTake some kebabs back to the players,” she said. “Nobody’s ordering them, and the fruit won’t keep.” She loaded a cardboard tray with fruit kebabs.
    I took it all back to the dugout and set the tray down on the bench. I nibbled on my own tropical fruit kebab and watched the game.
    There was nobody out, and Sammy was on first base after a clean single to left field. He took a step off the base and looked at the Porcupines’ dugout for the sign. Grumps gave him his stone-faced look again. Sammy stepped back on the bag.
    It was for the best, because Wayne got a hit and Sammy got to second anyway.
    Later in the inning either Danny O’Brien or Brian Daniels hit a double.
    â€œHe’s faster than a skyscraper!” shouted Ernie Hecker as Sammy lumbered home. It was a run for the Porcupines! The crowd cheered.
    When the inning ended, I crossed the field to pick up a bat. Sammy stopped me. “Hey, Chad, never mind about that magic baseball card. I can’t use it. Coach won’t let me steal a base.”
    â€œMaybe he would if the situation was right?”
    â€œNo way. He won’t ever give me the sign. I’ll just have to tell my niece that you can do anything if you put your mind to it
and
Grumps lets you do it.”
    â€œI’ll find you a card anyway,” I promised.
    â€œThanks, Chad.” Sammy headed back to the Porcupines’ dugout.
    Either Brian Daniels or Danny O’Briengrounded into a double play, and the Finches came back to the dugout to bat. It was the top of the fifth inning.
    Todd Farnsworth, the Finches’ pitcher, picked up one of the fruit kebabs.
    â€œWhere did these come from?”
    â€œThe kid brought them,” a player said. “Try one. They’re good.”
    â€œI never liked marshmallows, but I could go for some fruit,” said Todd. He slid off a marshmallow and started to toss it toward the trash.
    â€œHey, what are you doing?” said Gustavo. “That’s the best part.” He took the marshmallow and popped it in his mouth, then grabbed a skewer and took off more marshmallows. He popped them all into his mouth at once.
    Todd ate a couple of pieces of fruit off the skewer. “These are great! You guys should try them.” He pushed the tray down the bench.

    Â 
    Several of the players took one.
    Gustavo mumbled something.
    â€œWe can’t hear you, Gus,” said the shortstop. “Your mouth is full of marshmallows.”
    Gustavo pointed at the shortstop’s fruit kebab, then at himself.
    â€œGus wants all of your marshmallows,” Todd explained. The players started handing him their marshmallows. Gustavo couldn’t keep up.
    â€œPerez, you’re supposed to be on deck!” the manager shouted. Gus stuffed the marshmallows into his pocket and headed out of the dugout.
    â€œHope he doesn’t have to slide,” said Todd. “Could get messy.”
    Gustavo hit a home run to tie the game.
    â€œPass me a marshmallow,” said the second baseman.

ylan showed up during the seventh inning stretch. The game was still tied, 1–1. The fans were singing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game,” with Ernie Hecker’s voice rising