The 823rd Hit Read Online Free Page B

Luis Quezada at first base. Luis was a utilityinfielder and pinch runner. The only bright side for Teddy was that Luis didn’t get a hit, either. Teddy was back at first in the next game, but he still didn’t get any hits.
    â€¢ • •
    â€œRemember that Andy Pafko card?” I told Casey after school on Tuesday. We were walking to his house.
    â€œYou mean the card you made up?”
    â€œI did not.”
    â€œDid so.”
    â€œI’ve got it right here,” I told him. I patted my backpack. The card was tucked inside my math book.
    â€œProve it,” Casey said. “Seeing is believing. But before you ask, I already told you: I’m not wearing a Porcupines’ cap, even for five seconds.”
    â€œI know,” I said. “I just want to see UncleMarvin’s home run ball.” I thought maybe once we had the ball and the card out, I could talk Uncle Marvin into trading the ball for the card. I hated to do it, but Teddy needed the ball more than I needed the card.
    â€œThat’s fair,” Casey said.
    We went in through the kitchen. Uncle Marvin was doing another crossword and listening to a game on the radio.
    â€œUncle Marvin, can Chad see your home run ball?”
    He looked up from his crossword. “Hmm. All right. I guess I trust you now.”
    â€œAwesome.” I started following him out of the kitchen.
    â€œYou wait right here,” he said. “I still don’t want you to know where it’s hidden. A guy can’t be too careful.”
    I unzipped my backpack and took out mymath book. The radio was blaring a big league game from Chicago.
    We heard something heavy being moved in the other room, and then we heard Uncle Marvin shout, “
Gabbagah!
”
    A moment later he appeared, wagging his finger at me. “You already took it!” he cried.
    â€œWhat? How could I? I’ve only been here twice. Casey was with me every second.”
    â€œAll I know is that my home run ball is missing!” Uncle Marvin sat down and took some deep breaths.
    â€œMaybe you just forgot where you put it,” said Casey. “It
was
more than a couple of weeks ago.”

    â€œNonsense. I know exactly where I put it. It was in a shoebox on top of the china hutch.”
    â€œLet me look for it, Uncle Marvin,” said Casey.
    â€œFine.”
    â€œCan I help?” I offered.
    â€œCan he?” Casey asked his uncle.
    â€œI suppose,” he said. “I guess he didn’t take it. But somebody did.”
    We started in the dining room. I found the shoebox on top of the china hutch, but sure enough, it was empty. We searched the living room and also Uncle Marvin’s study.
    Uncle Marvin searched his own bedroom. When we went to the porch, Arthur started screeching and showing us his claws.
    â€œArthur likes the porch,” said Casey. “It’s his territory. That’s why I never use the front door.”
    â€œAt least we know nobody else got in that way,” I said.
    Fortunately, there weren’t many places on the porch to look—just a beat-up armchair that had been slashed to ribbons and a scratching post in perfect condition.
    We couldn’t find the baseball anywhere. When I left, Uncle Marvin had his head in his hands and was groaning. I decided it wasn’t a good time to show him the Andy Pafko card.
    Wayne Zane was right about one thing. Teddy’s lucky baseball didn’t seem to bring good luck to anybody.

he Porcupines finished the season in fourth place. Because of the seeding, they would play the Rogues in the first round of the playoffs. The series would open in Rosedale. Then the games would move to Pine City Park for the weekend.
    I wasn’t as happy as I thought I’d be. Sure, I could work at least one playoff game, but what if the Porcupines lost the series? Even worse, what if they lost at home? The thought of the Rosedale Rogues winning the series in Pine City Park