The Home Run Kid Races On Read Online Free PDF Page A

exchanged glances. “They’re tough,” Duane said. “At least, one of them is—a kid who only hits homers.”
    The coach caught Syl’s eye and grinned. “Well, we know what it’s like to have one of those on the team, don’t we? But even
     if we don’t slug out big hits all the time,” he added, “we’ve got a good team. Right?”
    The boys cheered and then broke off, laughing and talking, into small groups.
    Syl found an open spot on the bench and changed his spikes for his sneakers. He was dog-tired from practice and wanted nothing
     more than to bike home and relax. But Mr. Teacy was waiting for him. So, with a deep sigh, he made his way to his bike.
    “Syl, wait up!” Trent hurried over to him. “Do you have your cell phone?” When Syl nodded, Trent grinned. “Excellent! Call
     your mom and see if you can come over to my house. I got a sick new four-player video game. Jim and Duane already got the
     okay to come and play it, so now we just need you.”
    Syl hesitated, thinking.
    He hadn’t actually
promised
Mr. Teacy he’d meet him today, had he? And there was no practice tomorrow or the next day, which left two entire afternoons
     open for bunting practice. Wouldn’t it make more sense to go then, when there’d be lots of time, instead of now, when he was
     due home for dinner in an hour? Not to mention the fact that he was so tired he wouldn’t be in his best form today!
    No,
he finally decided,
I’ll wait until tomorrow
.
    “Just give me a minute to call my mom,” Syl told Trent. “If it’s okay with her, then I’m game to play
your
game!”

8
    S ylvester had a great time playing Trent’s new video game. In fact, he didn’t give Mr. Teacy another thought until the next
     morning.
    “Mom,” he said over breakfast, “would it be okay if I went to the ball field right after school? I never did get in any bunting
     practice yesterday.”
    He had expected his mother to agree, but to his surprise, she shook her head. “Not today, Syl,” she said. “I need your help
     getting ready for the yard sale, remember?”
    Syl groaned. He’d totally forgotten about the sale.
    Mrs. Coddmyer laughed at his reaction. “Tell you what,” she said. “You give me an hour right after school this afternoon and
     tomorrow, and after that, you can have until dinner-time for baseball. Deal?”
    Syl knew it would be useless to argue. So instead of pedaling to the old ball field when school let out that afternoon, he
     pedaled home. There he found his mother puttering in the garage among boxes, bags, and bins filled with junk.
    “What
is
all this stuff?” He poked around inside the nearest bin and pulled out an old camera. “Would someone seriously pay money
     for this?”
    Mrs. Coddmyer glanced up. “That’s my old point-and-shoot camera. I took a lot of pictures of you with that thing.”
    Sylvester examined the camera more closely. “Hey, I think there’s still some film in it.”
    “Let me see.” His mother checked it and nodded. “You’re right. There are one or two exposures left on the roll.” She handed
     the camera back to Syl. “Put that somewhere safe. There’s a shop downtown that still develops film. If the film hasn’t been
     ruined from being in the attic, maybe we’ll add some new photos to our stash.”
    Sylvester laid the camera on the garage steps. As he did, he had a sudden idea.
    I could bring this camera with me today and sneak a photo of Mr. Teacy! Then I’d have proof that he is real!
    With that thought in mind, he turned back to his mother. “Say, Mom, could I use up the film before we get it developed? It
     seems like a big waste not to finish the roll.”
    Mrs. Coddmyer shrugged. “Sure, why not?”
    “I’ll drop the film off at the shop after I finish bunting practice,” Syl added as he tucked the camera into his gear bag.
     Then he returned to helping his mother sort through the boxes. He found many other “treasures,” including a bin of his favorite