Babe Ruth by Guernsey Van Riper Jr

Author:Guernsey Van Riper Jr.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aladdin

A LAUGHING MATTER

Brother Matthias went ahead to get the gloves.

Johnny trotted along with George. “You can beat him, George,” he said. “He’s asked for it. He’s always making trouble.”

But George wasn’t happy. He was worried. “What will Brother Matthias think?” he wondered.

“Now I bet Brother Matthias won’t coach me anymore,” he said sadly to Johnny. “I always have to go and mess things up.”

“Don’t worry,” said Johnny. “Brother Matthias isn’t so dumb. He knows Rod has been making things tough for you.”

George felt a little better. Maybe Johnny was right. Still, he shouldn’t have fought with Rod. But he couldn’t let Rod shove him around, either.

The boys on the playground had heard about the fight. They rushed to the play hall, put a couple of chairs some distance apart in the center of the hall, and gathered around anxiously.

“Let’s have plenty of room here in the center,” Brother Matthias said, as he put the big boxing gloves on George and Rod. Then he looked at the two and added: “Who knows? We might find a good prospect for the boxing team out of this fight.”

He brought the boys to the center of the open space. Rod and George glared at each other. “I’ll flatten him,” thought George, gritting his teeth. “He can’t make fun of me!”

“Now, let’s have a clean, fair fight,” said Brother Matthias. “Two rounds. Ready? Go!”

Hardly were the words out of his mouth when George rushed at Rod, hitting out wildly—left, right, then left again.

There were excited shouts all around him. “Come on, George!”

“Stop him, Rod!” others shouted.

The chunky Rod backed away a little. George’s blows fell short, but he waded right in. He swung hard with his right. Rod blocked the blow with his gloves. Still George kept hitting with all his might. One of his blows caught Rod on the side of his head. In return Rod poked George in the nose. The gloves were so big and padded that it didn’t hurt George—but it stung. He struck right back, and caught Rod on the nose. Then they stood in the center of the ring, each hitting as hard as he could.

Gradually George forced Rod to back up. Now Rod was trying hard to block George’s swings.

“I’ve got him,” George thought. He charged in, raining blows on Rod’s shoulders and arms. Rod kept backing away. George’s friends shouted louder and louder.

“Time!” Brother Matthias called. “End of round one.”

Rod and George sat on their chairs, puffing and panting. The other boys shouted advice.

“Keep after him, George,” called Johnny.

Brother Matthias talked to Rod a minute. Then he came over to George. “Feeling all right?” he asked. He looked George over.

“Sure, I’m fine,” George said, puffing. “That Rod had better watch out.”

“Time!” called Brother Matthias again.

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