Out at Home by Cal Ripken Jr

Author:Cal Ripken Jr. [Ripkin, Cal Jr. with Cowherd, Kevin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781484711491
Publisher: Disney Book Group

Two days later, four of the Orioles were playing basketball at Smith Clove Park, enjoying their relative freedom before school started again in a few weeks. Even though it was one of those rare summer mornings without oppressive humidity, Mickey was steaming.

This was because the teams were Mickey and Katelyn against Gabe and Sammy, and Sammy was guarding him.

Hacking him unmercifully was the better way to put it.

“I don’t know whether you actually know this,” Mickey barked, “but when your man beats you to the basket, you’re not technically allowed to stop him by grabbing his shorts and giving him a wedgie.”

“Yeah, nerd,” Katelyn said, glaring at Sammy. “Try that on me and I’ll hit you so hard, you’ll be spitting teeth for a week.”

“And when your man goes in for a layup,” Mickey continued, “you can’t just bear-hug him. I’m pretty sure that’s called a foul.”

Sammy wiped the sweat from his forehead and grunted. “What can I say? I’m not hung up on the rule book. I’m a physical player.”

“No, you’re a dirty player,” Mickey said. “Because when you’re not grabbing my shorts or bear-hugging me, you’re elbowing me in the chest. Or trying to trip me. I’m surprised you haven’t hit me with a shovel.”

“Picky, picky, picky,” Gabe said. “You and K need to man up and stop the whining.”

He traded fist bumps with Sammy, the two of them grinning.

“Look at the boy,” Gabe said, draping an arm around his teammate. “He’s playing his heart out on defense. Does he occasionally get a little out of control? Maybe. Does his game have all the finesse of a hockey goon on a case of Red Bull? Sure. But look at that face.”

On cue, Sammy smiled angelically.

“See?” Gabe said. “The boy wouldn’t hurt a fly. All he wants to do is get a little exercise. And be with his best friends on this beautiful day.”

“Oh, please,” Katelyn said, rolling her eyes. “It’s definitely time for a break. Before I hurl right here.”

As they headed for the water fountain, they saw Hunter sprinting down the hill, shouting and waving at them.

“Why can’t he run the base paths that fast?” Gabe said as they watched the little third baseman approach.

“Mainly ’cause he’s batting .210 and never gets on base,” Sammy said, the two of them chuckling.

Hunter reached the court and collapsed on one of the benches.

“You’re not gonna believe this,” he said, gasping for breath. “Oh, this is good. Really, really good.”

He pulled a crumpled piece of paper from his back pocket.

“My mom was on the Baltimore Sun Web site and saw this,” he said. “Looks like our boy is a genuine…no, I don’t want to spoil it. Here’s the printout. See for yourself.”

He thrust the paper at Mickey, who smoothed it and proceeded to read aloud:

“‘Police and paramedics credited the quick thinking of a local youth with saving the life of a Pennsylvania woman in a crowded Towson restaurant Thursday.

“‘Barbara Perconetti, fifty-two, of Scranton, was having lunch at Eddie’s Char-Broil Grill when she began choking on a piece of steak lodged in her throat.

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.