Grand Slam by Tim Green & Derek Jeter

Author:Tim Green & Derek Jeter
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aladdin
Published: 2021-02-23T00:00:00+00:00

42

HE WOKE TO A BRILLIANT band of sunshine that had shouldered its way into the bedroom between the curtains. He jumped up, but his dad was long gone. He’d left a handwritten note on the kitchen table wishing Jalen luck and saying he couldn’t wait to pick him up at the airport Monday night.

Jalen packed a bag for Cat’s and a second for the tournament at Lakeland. He poured some Raisin Bran into a bowl and ate hurriedly. Cat and her mom were coming to pick him up in an hour. Jalen used the time to do reps with his speed hitter in the front yard.

The Range Rover pulled up, and Jalen loaded his bags and his gear in back. He climbed into the backseat and wasted no time bringing up the subject of his mom.

“So I thought I should invite my mom over to your house. Is that okay, Mrs. H?”

“Cat and I wanted to spend the afternoon by the pool anyway.” Cat’s mom glanced at him in the mirror. “I think James is going to stop by to say good-bye. Your mom is more than welcome to join us. I’ll have some sandwiches made up.”

“What about her—” Jalen just did not want to say “boyfriend.” “What about George?”

“Of course he’s welcome.”

“You’re the best, Mrs. Hewlett.” He texted his mom.

He read her reply and proudly said, “Mom wants to know what she can bring.”

Cat spun around with her face lit up. “How about some Scribblers? You know, those ice pops that look like big crayons?”

“Tell her that’s very nice of her, but just bring themselves,” Cat’s mom said. “You don’t need more sugar, Catrina.”

“Who’s Catrina?” Cat asked.

Her mom rolled her eyes.

“You are what you eat, Mom.” Cat fished a Jolly Rancher out of her pocket and popped it into her mouth. “And you know I’m sweet.”

Jalen knew enough to stay quiet, but he texted his mom and asked her to bring Scribblers anyway. He assumed George would be impressed to meet JY. He quickly gave himself a mental kick in the butt, because who cared about impressing George?

“I’m surprised JY’s still here,” Jalen said, thinking out loud. “I think Atlanta plays the Phillies tomorrow night. Albies is out with a broken thumb, and I think the guy they brought up from Gwinnett is struggling on offense.”

Cat’s mom said, “I didn’t know you followed the Braves.”

“Mom,” Cat said. “He’s a genius, remember? He glances at the box scores and shazam!—he can tell you anything on the page, even from, like, fifty years ago.”

“Not from fifty years.” Jalen knew he was blushing.

“Only because you haven’t looked at numbers from fifty years ago. Am I right?” Cat asked.

Jalen shrugged.

“Anyway,” Cat’s mom said. “They did tell him they want him for tomorrow’s game. He’s got a two thirty-five flight to Atlanta. That’s why I said I think he’s stopping by. He might not have time.”

Jalen wasn’t sure he wanted to see the ex-Yankee. He knew JY wanted to finish his career as a lifelong Yankee, like Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera.

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