Boxcar Children 68 - Basketball Mystery Read Online Free PDF Page A

waffles. But no one could finish them. In a short time, the children put down their forks.
    “Our eyes are bigger than our stomachs,” Tipper said.
    “I was hungry. But even I can’t finish these giant waffles,” Buzz said. “We won’t be able to play basketball if we’re too full. Right, Henry?”
    “Right!” Henry answered. “We’ll be doing a lot of running and jumping. It’s better not to eat too much. The other players can’t wait to meet you. They keep saying how lucky I am to have my own private coach.”
    Buzz set down his glass of orange juice. “I wish that were true. Tipper and I haven’t helped any of you Aldens much for the last few days. I’m not so sure I like being famous anymore. All these appointments and appearances sure get in the way of basketball.”
    “I know,” Tipper agreed. “I’m getting forgetful, we’re so busy running around. I forgot the key to the gym storage room yesterday. I’d rather play basketball than be on television.”
    “You would?” Benny said. “I thought you liked being on television.”
    “Not as much as I like coaching the team,” Tipper told the Aldens.
    “Same here,” Buzz said. “That’s really why I came back to Greenfield, not to have my picture taken all the time.” Buzz checked his watch. “We’d better get on the move. How about dropping off Henry and me at the sports center? It’s almost time for my first practice with the Blazers. I don’t want to keep them waiting.”
    When Tipper drove up to the sports center, Henry noticed how empty the place looked. “No one seems to be around. I’ll run in and check if anyone from the team is here yet.”
    By the time Buzz unloaded the car, Henry was back. “The doors are locked. Do you have a key?”
    “Oh, no, not missing keys again!” Tipper said with a groan.
    Buzz jingled something in his pocket. “Right here. Frank Fowler gave me a set yesterday. Let’s check around. It’s not noon yet. We’re a little early. Why don’t you kids get out and shoot a few baskets until the rest of the Blazers get here.”
    The Aldens followed Buzz and Tipper.
    Buzz put his key in the lobby door. “Tada! See, I brought my keys, not like some people I’m related to.”
    Tipper didn’t like hearing this. “Don’t tease me about that, Buzz. I feel awful that I let down the girls.”
    Violet slipped her hand into Tipper’s. “You didn’t let us down. We had fun. I learned a lot — how to guard people and how to always be in the ready position. We didn’t need a basketball. We just needed you.”
    Inside the sports center, a few workmen were painting on finishing touches.
    “Hey, there, guys,” Tom Hooper said when he saw the twins walk in with the Aldens.
    Buzz gave Tom a big grin. “Good to see you again, Tom. I’m here to coach the Blazers this afternoon so we can beat those fearsome Rockets of yours.”
    Tom pointed to the hall clock with his paintbrush. “You sure you have afternoon practice, Buzz? The Blazers were all here around ten o’clock this morning looking for you. I couldn’t let them into the gym. So they all kind of straggled off.”
    “What do you mean, Tom?” Buzz reached into his back pocket. He pulled out a piece of paper and unfolded it. “Here’s the schedule Frank gave me a couple of days ago,” he told Tom. “Doesn’t that say noon?”
    “Sorry, I’m not too good at figuring out schedules and such,” Tom said. “I just show up when somebody tells me to.”
    Tipper looked over Buzz’s shoulder. “It does say noon,” she agreed when she read the schedule. “I wonder why the team came early. Maybe you can call up some of the boys and ask them to come back, Buzz.”
    “Sorry, that won’t work out,” Tom said. “After you didn’t show up, the other painters decided to do some touch-up work in the gym. The paint won’t be dry for a few more hours. And tonight’s no good, either. That’s when I’m supposed to coach the Rockets in the gym. At least,