Steal That Base! Read Online Free Page B

above the rest of the crowd.
    â€œI thought you were sick,” I told Dylan. I was putting some bats away. “Is getting well quick one of your new spider powers?”
    â€œNah, Mom just wanted me to get more sleep,” he said. “After I got up, I decided to web-sling my way over here. How’s Sparky?”
    â€œEr . . . OK, I guess.” I put the last bataway and went back to the Finches’ dugout. Dylan was right behind me.
    â€œYou can go back to the Pines’ dugout if you want,” he said. “I’ll help the Finches.”
    â€œSure,” I said.
    Then I realized that Dylan had frozen in place, his mouth wide open.
    â€œHe’s gone!” Dylan pointed at the empty web. “Sparky is gone!”
    â€œHe might come back.”
    â€œNobody smooshed him, did they?”
    â€œNobody smooshed him,” I said. “That spider just dropped and ran away. I saw him do it.”
    â€œI hope he’s all right,” said Dylan. He crouched and peered through the fence at the infield.

    â€œI gotta go,” I said. I had to hurry to the Porcupines’ dugout, because the Pines were going to bat. “I’ll let you know if I see Sparky.”
    I watched for spiders on my way around the diamond, but didn’t see any. I did bump right into Spike.
    â€œHey!” said Abby.
    â€œSorry.”
    â€œNever mind. So, um . . . I can’t find another bobblehead for Petunia.” Abby said. “Can I still have yours? You did promise.”
    â€œI know.” When I’d made that promise, I was sure Spike could find a Spike bobblehead. No such luck. “Let’s go get it.”
    Abby followed me into the Porcupines’ dugout.
    â€œHey, Spike is here!” Wayne Zane gave Spike a high five.
    â€œYou’re great, Spike,” said Tommy. “You crack me up every time.”
    Spike toed the ground and looked bashful.
    â€œBe right back.” I ran and fetched the porcupine bobblehead from my locker. I opened the box to make sure the toy was still in there. That bobblehead would have looked great on my bookshelf, right next to my baseball cards. I was sad to lose it.
    â€œMake sure Petunia takes good care of this,” I said when I handed the box to Spike.
    The mascot did a huge exaggerated bow, then gave me a Porcupine hug, which is like a bear hug, only you’ve got to watch the quills. Spike didn’t leave the dugout, though.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?”
    The little porcupine tugged on my arm and pulled me off to the side where nobody could hear us.
    â€œI forgot Petunia’s seat number,” Abby whispered.
    â€œOh, no!”
    â€œDo you remember it?”
    â€œNo, I didn’t even look at the tickets.” I bit my lower lip and thought about it. “Maybe you can go into the stands and find her. It’s not that big a ballpark.”
    â€œThere isn’t much time left in the seventh inning stretch,” Abby replied. “What if I don’t find her?”
    â€œI have an idea. Can you be batboy for a few seconds?”
    â€œI don’t know how.”
    â€œJust make sure that the bat for the next batter is ready, and return the bat to the rack when he’s done. The players’ names are on the bats, and you can match up their names to the numbers on the lineup card . . .”
    â€œWhoa, slow down,” said Abby.
    â€œNo time. Do the best you can,” I said. I ran through the locker room and out onto the concourse. I had to talk to my idol.
    â€¢ • •
    Victor Snapp sat in a booth in between the upper and lower decks, directly behind home plate. The door was propped open. He was hunched over a scorecard, making flecks with his pencil for every pitch. “Remember,” he said into the microphone, “Teddy ‘the Bear’ Larrabee is today’s Papa’s Pizza Pick to Click. If Larrabee gets a hit in today’s game, fans will receive a