Mystery at the Ballpark Read Online Free PDF Page B

keep your mind working. Watch every pitch and be ready. The hitter may send the ball right to you. Yell to your teammates to encourage them. Talk to them about the game … how many outs … who is at bat … who’s backing up the players on the infield.”
    Violet scuffed her toe in the soft red earth. She knew the coach was right. Sometimes when she was waiting to take her turn at bat, she drifted off into a world of her own.
    “Don’t listen to the crowds,” Coach Warren went on. “Don’t talk to anyone but your teammates. Don’t be thinking of anything but the ball game. Can you do that?”
    “You bet we can!” Benny leaped to his feet and everyone joined him. “Nobody can stop the Bears!”
    Coach Warren looked at Chuck. “I think we’ve got ourselves a team.”
    Half an hour later, the Aldens, along with Michael and Nicole, stopped at the grocery for a quick drink before heading home. It was very warm out, and Violet was longing for a lemonade.
    “How do you feel about playing the Pirates?” Violet asked. Nicole acted very confident on the outside, but she suspected that her new friend was feeling as nervous as she was.
    “A little scared,” Nicole admitted. “I probably wouldn’t say that to anyone but you, though.”
    “Me, too,” Violet paid for the drinks and carried them back to the small table where the rest of the group was waiting. A few minutes later, they noticed Chuck buying a package of gum in the front of the store. He was with a boy about eleven years old, and didn’t see the Aldens.
    “Who’s that with Chuck?” Nicole whispered.
    “I don’t know,” Henry said.
    After Chuck and the young boy had left, Benny patted his duffel bag. “Stockings brought us good luck today,” he said proudly. “Nothing else missing, and we get to play another team.”
    “Just make sure you bring him the day after tomorrow,” Violet said. “I’m going to need all the good luck I can get.”
    “So where is our mascot?” Nicole asked.
    “Right here.” Benny reached into his duffel bag. “I’ll bring him out so he can join us.” He groped inside the bag, and his expression suddenly became alarmed. “Oh no!” he wailed.
    “What’s wrong?” Violet said quickly.
    Benny took everything out of the duffel bag and turned it inside out on the seat. There was no sign of the stuffed bear. “He’s gone,” Benny said hoarsely. “Stockings is gone!”
    “Oh, no, Benny! Are you sure?” asked Jessie.
    Benny frowned. “Yes,” he said. “Someone took him!”
    Nicole shook her head in dismay. A stolen bat, a stolen glove, and now the team mascot was missing. What did this mean for the Bears?

CHAPTER 6
A Long Way to Clarksville
    “I’m so nervous I don’t think I can hold onto the bat,” Violet whispered to Nicole.
    Nicole nodded. “My hands are slippery, too. And I feel like I swallowed a whole jar full of butterflies.” She tugged the visor down on her cap. “Let’s just hope the other team is as scared as we are.”
    It was eight in the morning and everyone was gathered at the playing field. Violet tried to ignore the fact that her stomach was growling. She had barely touched the hot oatmeal that Mrs. McGregor had prepared that morning. She had been too excited thinking about the game! Would she remember everything Chuck had told her? Would she score a run? Would the team be proud of her?
    Benny was the only one who seemed calm. He had polished off two bowls of oatmeal and a double helping of French toast.
    Now Henry stood next to his little brother and ruffled Benny’s hair. “How’s it going, Benny?”
    “Okay, I guess.” Benny scuffed his toe in the soft red earth. “I miss Stockings, though. And today’s our very first game. We need him for luck!” Benny had checked the dugout that morning, hoping to find the stuffed bear.
    “Maybe Stockings can still bring us luck,” Violet said. “From wherever he is.” She knew her little brother was disappointed. “After all,