Jinxed! (6 page)

That's what Dylan needed, I realized. If he knew the players and their stories, he would
have
to like the game better.

I couldn't drag my whole collection into the locker room. I would have to put all my favorite cards together.

I started pulling binders off the shelf.

banner hanging high over the gate to Pine City Park read, “KIDS GET IN FREE TODAY!” Below that was a second line: “What's the Big Surprise? Be the First to Know!”

There were Pines fans in the parking lot, grilling hamburgers and waiting for the gates to open. A couple of guys were painting the porcupine statue in front of the ballpark. Workers at the snack stands were heating up oil for waffle fries and mini donuts. Folks from the radio station that broadcast the games
were setting up a table on the plaza. They were giving out free porcupine-shaped balls, just like the ones used in the porcupine toss. Inside the ballpark, the field crew were mowing the grass and raking the mound.

Six or seven players were already in the Pines' locker room, kneeling in a half-circle by one of the lockers. I thought I'd walked in on a secret player ritual or an exercise drill.

“Look—he's eating it,” said one of the players.

“Of course he's eating it.”

I peered over their shoulders and saw a fuzzy brown bunny working on a bit of lettuce in Mike Stammer's outstretched hand.

“Hey, it's a rabbit.” What was that all about?

“It was your idea,” Mike said, looking up at me. “I got him at the animal shelter this morning. I'm going to let this little guy work his magic on me.”

Grumps Humboldt came in and craned his neck to see what was going on. “Why is there a rodent in the locker room?”

“What do you have against rodents, Mister Humboldt?” Lance Pantaño asked. “Our team is named for a rodent.”

“It's not a rodent,” said Wayne Zane. “It's a lagomorph.”

“We're in last place and you fellows are turning this place into a petting zoo,” the manager grumbled.

“Lagomorph. Not a rodent. Just sayin',” Wayne mumbled.

“It's only one rabbit,” said Mike Stammer. He moved the bunny to a cage by his locker. “I brought him in to help.”

“How is that lago-whatsit going to help us?” Grumps asked. “Is he going to play shortstop?”

“If a rabbit's foot is good luck, why not a whole rabbit?” Mike asked. “Four feet—four times as much luck.”

“You can't argue with that,” said Wayne Zane. “It's simple math.”

“Great,” said Grumps. “Next you'll bring a horse in here and tell me it's four times luckier than a horseshoe.”

The rabbit hopped into a corner of the cage. I wondered if cleaning its cage would be a batboy-type duty or if Mike would do it.

I stowed my binder on top of my locker and changed into my uniform. I felt a few butterflies in my stomach. There would be a lot of kids at today's game, and a lot of people watching me. What if I messed up?

Dylan came in and noticed the rabbit. “Who's that?” he asked.

“He's our new shortstop,” said Grumps. “Can't be any worse than our old one.”

“He's cute,” said Dylan. He crouched by the cage and let the rabbit sniff his fingertips. Then he reached in between the bars and lightly petted its ears.

Grumps had taped up the day's lineup card on the dugout wall, and I used it to set up the bat rack. It was easy—I just had to put a couple of bats for each player in the rack in the same order they batted. Batting gloves and helmets and mitts went in the bins over the rack.

I finished with that chore and saw that Dylan was still playing with the bunny. He wasn't even in uniform yet.

“You kids want to help out with BP?” Wally shouted from the doorway.

“I guess,” said Dylan. He got up slowly and went to get dressed.

I didn't get a chance to show him my cards and start converting him into a baseball fan. Maybe what Dylan really needed was for the players to have big ears and cottontails.

he stands were already full when we ran out to the field for batting practice.

“Hey, look—there he is!” I heard someone shout from the left field bleachers. “Hey, Chad!” I looked up and saw a bunch of kids from class. I waved.

“Where's Dylan?” Oscar called out.

I pointed over to right field.

“Nice uniform!” shouted Ivan.

“Thanks!” I shouted back.

“Hey!” Myung Young, the center fielder,
got my attention. He pointed at home plate.

“I'm working right now!” I reminded my friends, and turned around just in time to see a white bullet coming right at my head. I panicked and froze. Myung leaped in front of me and caught the ball.

“Nice play!” shouted Oscar.

I tried to shrug it off and waited for another ball to come my way.

Sammy Solaris was still in the batter's box, and sent another ball flying. I backed up and kept the ball in front of me, just like I learned in Little League. I fielded this one OK.

“Hey, Chad! Can I have the ball?” Ivan asked.

I shook my head. Wally said we couldn't keep anything or give anything away. He was really clear about it.

“Come on! Please?” Ivan asked.

I glanced around. Nobody seemed to be looking. Besides, it was Kids Get In Free Day. Ivan was a kid. I lobbed the ball into the stands and wheeled around to watch Sammy bat again. He sent a few balls into center field. Myung Young showed off his skills, leaping for one and diving for another. A third hooked foul and was caught by a fan. On Sammy's last swing he sent another ball my way. I fielded it on a bounce.

“Over here!” Oscar shouted. “Throw me the ball!”

“I can't,” I shouted back.

“You gave one to Ivan!”

I sighed, and tossed it to him. If some foul balls were fair game, why not a few balls that didn't really make it?

That wasn't how Wally felt about it. He lectured me when I got back to the dugout.

“You know the rules,” he said. “Round up
the balls and bring them back. Baseballs don't grow on trees, you know.”

“The center part does,” said Wayne Zane. “It's made out of cork and rubber. Those are both from trees.”

“
Finished
baseballs don't grow on trees,” Wally replied. “If they do, Wayne, then plant me a baseball tree.”

“I was just sayin',” Wayne mumbled.

“Sorry,” I told Wally. “I got excited. Those are friends of mine.”

“It's all right this time,” he said. “Just don't make a habit of it.”

• • •

Mike Stammer came into the dugout carrying the rabbit cage. He set it on the end of the bench.

“Pinch runner?” Myung Young asked.

“Good-luck charm,” Mike explained.

“Maybe he can run for me,” said Sammy Solaris.

“A tortoise could pinch-run for you,” said Wayne Zane.

Sammy glared at him.

“Just sayin'!” said Wayne.

Grumps came into the dugout, saw the rabbit there, and shook his head. “That thing better not chew up the bats,” he said.

There was a huge roar from the crowd. Victor Snapp was making an announcement, but I couldn't hear it over the applause. I stepped onto the field to get a better look at what was happening.

Pokey the Porcupine rolled by on a golf cart, and there was a new kid-size mascot with him. The mascot looked really cool! His quills poked out of his head like a punk-rock hairdo, and he had a team shirt on top of his porcupine
costume. The sidekick stood on the seat next to Pokey and waved at the fans.

So that was the surprise—and it was great! The Pines had a kid mascot, just in time for Kids Get In Free Day!

Victor Snapp repeated the announcement, “Fans, please welcome to Pine City Park the Porcupines' brand-new junior mascot . . .
Spike
!”

Spike jumped out of the cart and did a handstand and then a cartwheel. He skipped toward the left field seats. He jumped up and slapped hands with every kid who reached out to him. Then he did a little dance while the stereo blasted a classic rock song. He was a big hit.

I noticed Dylan was standing next to me. “The new mascot is great,” I said.