Great Balls of Fire by Loren Long

Author:Loren Long
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Published: 2008-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

“It’s also hot,” Ruby said, shaking it. “Our baseball is hot.”

11

Fireballs

Happy needs to be a fireballer,” Graham said to Ruby, unstacking the milk crates and tossing the extra ones to the side. “That’s what Daddy called hurlers who threw hard.”

“Fireballers and flame-throwers,” Ruby added. She cradled the warm baseball in her hands as Happy sized up the leadoff striker.

Graham glanced at his brother. “That has to be it, right, Griffy?” he asked, stepping back onto the crate he had perched upon earlier. He left space for his sister, who joined him. “We’re in Chicago. It’s all about fire and flames.”

Griffith had shared with Graham what he had learned about Chicago from Happy. Graham had been riveted when he’d told him about the Great Fire.

However, Griffith didn’t answer his younger brother. As he slide-stepped to his left and positioned himself between the bench and his siblings, his concern over Ruby and Graham standing on even the single crate grew. Griffith could see it provided them with a clearer view of the action on the field, but they stood out. People were able to see their faces.

The Chancellor’s men were up to something. With each passing moment, Griffith was more sure of it. The encounter on the train had been merely a prelude. But what did they have in store for him and his brother and sister? Why was there still no sign of them? Why…

Griffith whirled around. He was certain there would be someone there. And for a fleeting instant, he thought he’d spotted the familiar handkerchief in the suit pocket of a man only a few persons away. But no. What he’d seen was a girl huddled next to her father, her pink hair ribbon pressed to his suit jacket.

Turning back toward the match, Griffith eased closer to Ruby and Graham. He would try to focus solely on the game. Even though the Travelin’ Nine were already ahead, the eagle and the wind told him things were about to happen. He reached over, joining his hand to his siblings’ on the still-warm sphere.

“Bring the heat!” Ruby cheered.

“You’re a fireballer, Happy!” Graham shouted.

“Fastballs, Happy!” Griffith chimed in, cupping his free hand over his mouth. “Only fastballs!”

On the hill, Happy tipped his cap to the three Paynes and then stepped to the pitcher’s line. It was time for hot stuff and nothing else. No more side-arm pitches, behind-the-back offerings, or between-the-legs deliveries.

Happy reached into his glove, stared down the striker, rocked into his windup, and fired his first pitch.

Fire he did! A trail of flame streaked behind the ball.

“Strike one!” the umpire called.

As soon as the Travelin’ Nine hurler saw the flames, he shook out his thumb and three fingers, but they weren’t even warm. With a puzzled expression, he stared at his digits.

For his second pitch, Happy followed instructions and fired another heater. Once again, a ball of flame left his grip and blazed a path across the plate.

“Strike two!”

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.