The Team Curse by Israel Keats

Author:Israel Keats [Keats, Israel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Athletes, Darby Creek, Fiction, Hi-Lo Fiction, League of the Paranormal, Paranormal, Sports, Sports Fiction, Supernatural, Recreation, Games, Occult, Social Themes, Emotions, Feelings, Athlete, Baseball, Baseball Player, Baseball Players, Curse, cursed, Curses, Friend, Friends, Friendship, Ghost, Ghosts, High School, Israel Keats, Lerner Publications, Magic, Mystery, School, Schools, Sport, Sports and Activities, Sports Stories, Sports Story, Teen, Teenager, Teenagers, Teens, The Team Curse, Young Adult Readers
Publisher: Lerner Publishing Group
Published: 2019-08-02T00:00:00+00:00

8

“Do you want to go see this guy, Bert Hawes?” Isaac asked Todd the next day at lunch.

“Who’s that?” Todd asked between bites of chicken sandwich.

“An old teacher. Ms. Wesley said he used to coach the baseball team. He might remember when the team started to lose.”

“If we can ask him. And if he can remember.”

“Well, it’s our only lead,” Isaac said. “You in?”

“Sure. Nothing better to do.” Todd stifled a yawn. “Except sleep.”

They met in the parking lot after school. Isaac had unlocked his bike. They headed toward the address that Ms. Wesley had given them.

“Looks like our school colors,” Todd said as they approached the house.

“I know. He’s a big Mustangs fan.”

“Wait.” Todd reached into his bag and removed the baseball cap, then pulled it down over his head. “You put on yours.”

“How come?”

“Because the curse won’t let us bring up baseball, but he might if he sees us in these.”

“Good thinking.” Isaac pulled out his own cap.

They rang the bell. A moment later the door opened a crack and a man peeked out. He had only a few wispy hairs and wire-rimmed glasses.

“What can I do for you boys?” he said. “Hey, do you go to MHS?” He pointed at their caps.

“We sure do,” Isaac said.

“I used to teach there,” he said. “A long time ago. You must be on the baseball team?”

“Yep,” Isaac nodded. “Center field.”

“Shortstop,” Todd added.

Mr. Hawes threw the door open all the way. “Come in, come in. Mustangs baseball players are always welcome here.” He led them down the hall to the living room. “Tell me, has the team gotten any better? I coached that cursed team for twenty years!”

Isaac felt a rush of adrenaline when Mr. Hawes said cursed.

“The Mustangs never could get anything good going, and had the worst luck,” he went on. “We had good players, that’s for sure. Boys who exceled at other sports. Even boys who exceled at baseball, when they weren’t playing for the Mustangs. Why, one boy, Timothy Crayton, he went pro as a pitcher in ’99!”

“Yeah, I know,” Todd said. “His picture is on the wall of fame.” The wall of fame was a display right inside of the school, featuring notable graduates from Middleton High. Business people, local officials, authors, and athletes. Isaac had looked over that wall a hundred times, wondering if his own name would end up there one day and what he would have done to earn it.

Mr. Hawes was still rambling about the losing streak.

“I used to blame myself, but no coach since has done any better, nor did the coaches before me. Anyway, what brings you here?”

“Oh, uh . . .” Isaac wanted to say the curse, but his mouth wouldn’t let him.

“We’re doing a history project,” Todd managed to croak out. “About the Mustangs.”

“Hm. Well, I don’t know where to begin. I was mostly an English teacher, you know, but I played baseball in college, and once the principal found out, he tapped me to coach. I said I didn’t know anything about coaching.

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