Shortstop from Tokyo Read Online Free PDF Page B

away when he saw a kid in uniform break away from a group of guys and come toward him. “Stogie,” the kid called.
    It was Sam Suzuki.
    Stogie didn’t know whether to wait for him or ignore him. He waited. “Yeah?”
    “It was my fault you did not play. Right?”
    Stogie’s lips felt like cardboard. “Forget it,” he said.
    “Not easy to forget it,” Sam replied.
    “Well — try.” Stogie started away, not knowing what else he could say.
    “Stogie,” Sam called quietly.
    Stogie halted and looked directly into Sam’s eyes. “Yeah, what?”
    “Better I do not play anymore. Right? Better I quit.”
    Raw anger swept through Stogie in a wave. “No! It isn’t better!” he shouted. “That would make everything worse! The guys would
     blame me for your quitting, just like you’re blaming me for ruining your glove! And I didn’t! You still think I did, don’t
     you?”
    Sam lifted his shoulders in a half-shrug. “I — I do not know, Stogie.”
    “What can I do to make you believe me?” Stogie cried. Then he turned and ran, catching up with Beak and Jill and his mother
     and father, who had already reached the sidewalk.
    “What happened?” asked Jill wonderingly. “You didn’t play at all.”
    Stogie swallowed and caught his breath. “I popped off to the coach.”
    “Popped off?” Jill’s eyes turned big and round. “Why?”
    “Because he wanted me to play second base. You saw Sam Suzuki at short, didn’t you?”
    “Yes, but —”
    “Never mind, Jill,” interrupted Mr. Crane. “Stogie will have to let that reprimandingcool off. I suspected it was something like that when I saw Sam run out to short and Dennis to second.” He paused. “Beak,
     you came through nicely.”
    “Thanks, Mr. Crane.”
    For a talkative guy Beak Peters was pretty quiet the rest of the way home. Guess even the hit wasn’t enough to outweigh the
     despair he shared with his pal Stogie.

9
    B EAK came over the next afternoon. He handed Stogie a one-dollar bill and some change.
    “That’s from Sam Suzuki,” explained Beak. “His share for breaking the Bunningers’ window.”
    Stogie frowned. “You told him I paid for it?”
    “I had to. He asked me.”
    A small volcano began to form in Stogie’s stomach. Quickly he took the money inside and laid it on the dresser in hisroom. He took his time going back out to the porch.
    “Sam told me he’s going to New York City with his parents today,” said Beak. “His father has some business to do there on
     Monday.”
    “Will they be back by Tuesday?”
    The Mohawks were tangling with the Rainbows on Tuesday, and chances were good that Fats Cornell would hurl for the Rainbows.
     He was tough, one of the toughest in the league.
    “I don’t know,” replied Beak. “I sure hope so. Without him we …” He broke off and looked sheepishly at Stogie. “He is pretty
     good, Stoge. You know that.”
    “Of course I know. And I know you were going to say that without him we might lose. Don’t forget, we had a pretty good team
     before he came around, too.”
    “I know, Stoge. And I know he sure messed things up for you. But the guy’s so
good
, you know it? I don’t only mean as a ball player, but as a guy. He’s a barrel of fun.”
    Stogie nodded. “Nobody said he’s not a good guy. But don’t you think he’s pigheaded for still thinking I ruined his glove?
     I’ve never heard of anything so crazy!”
    Just the same
, he felt like saying,
I can’t help being a little sore at Sam. It’s his fault I’m not playing shortstop. His fault I’m playing second base where
     I won’t get the action I got at short
.
    Beak didn’t answer. He stretched out his legs and began carving something in the soft dirt with the edge of his sneakers.
    “I’ve got a tent,” he said at last, breaking the long silence. “I’ve been thinkingabout putting it up tonight in the backyard. Want to help me, and both of us spend the night in it?”
    Stogie shrugged. “Sure.” He was