Mystery at the Ballpark (4 page)

“I wasn’t,” Benny admitted. “At least not then.” He sat lost in thought. He just couldn’t imagine that Mr. Jackson would steal Jessie’s glove and then try to replace it with a fake one. Why would he do such a thing? Suddenly he remembered something. “Hey!” he said’

“What is it, Benny?” Henry asked.

“You know what?” Benny said, “Mr. Jackson doesn’t think girls should play baseball!”

“What?” Jessie was outraged. “You’re kidding!”

“No, it’s the truth.” Benny told them about his conversation with Mr. Jackson.

“How weird. Do you think
he
was kidding?” Violet asked. She had noticed that Mr. Jackson had never been too friendly to her, but she found it hard to believe he didn’t want her on the team.

“I don’t know,” Benny said, his eyes solemn.” But does this have anything to do with stealing Jessie’s glove?”

Henry took a deep breath. “Maybe. If he really wants the girls off the team, I suppose he could make things hard for them, one by one. First Ann, and her missing bat, and then Jessie, and the missing glove.”

“Maybe he thinks if he causes enough problems for the girls, they’ll all quit,” Michael said.

Jessie was angry. “Then he doesn’t know us. I’ll play whether I get my glove back or not.”

“We all will,” Violet said encouragingly. “Anyway, Mr. Jackson might not even be the thief. It might be someone else.”

“But who?” Benny asked.

Chuck blew his whistle for everyone to come back to the field. “I don’t know. We’ll have to think about it,” Henry said.

Somehow they had to solve the mystery before anything else disappeared.

“Meet our new mascot,” Benny said to Nicole and Michael the next morning. He proudly held up a battered teddy bear. Jessie had made the bear from old stockings back when they lived in the boxcar. “This is Stockings,” Benny told them.

“Very nice,” Nicole said, panting a little. She squinted a little against the bright sunlight. They were starting their morning practice by running laps around the playing field. “But why do we need a mascot?”

“To bring us luck,” Benny said seriously.

“Baseball players always need something to give them good luck. Didn’t you know that?”

“Sure,” Michael said. He dropped back a little to keep pace with Benny. “Some players make sure they tie their shoelaces the same way before every game and eat the same thing for breakfast. They think it makes them play better.”

Benny nodded. “That’s why I brought Stockings. There won’t be anything else missing around here. You’ll see.”

“Whatever you say, Benny,” Michael said with a chuckle. “Are you going to carry him around all day?”

“I sure am!” Benny insisted. He hesitated. “Except for lunch. I’ll have to put him down when I eat my sandwich.”

After they finished their laps, Chuck and Benny laid a sheet of plastic on the ground so they could practice sliding into a base. The sheet of plastic was about four feet wide and twenty feet long. When it was wet, it became very slippery. It was just like zipping over a patch of ice.

Chuck explained that sliding was important because it helped you reach a base safely without getting tagged out by the baseman. And it was important to practice on the plastic so no one would get hurt. Everyone took their shoes off and Violet went first. She backed up a few feet and waited for Chuck to signal her to go. She felt a little nervous and wasn’t sure she would do it right.

“Remember, Violet,” he said, “it’s just like falling.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” she protested.

“But this is falling without getting hurt,” Chuck pointed out. “Remember what I told you? If you do it right, you won’t hurt yourself or the other players. Just relax and go with the fall.”

“I’ll try,” Violet said.

“Go for it!” Susan Miller encouraged her.

“Keep your head up!” Henry yelled.

Violet took a deep breath and dashed toward the plastic strip. When her foot touched it, she immediately let herself go into a controlled fall, and tried to stay relaxed. It worked! Jessie applauded and Chuck gave her a thumbs-up sign.

All the players took turns on the plastic until Chuck was satisfied that everyone knew how to slide safely.

After lunch, Coach Warren called everyone together in the center of the field. “Listen up,” he said. His face was ruddy from the sun and he tapped his clipboard. “I have a challenge for you. How’d you like to play a real game the day after tomorrow?”

“A real game?” Violet blurted out. To that point, they had just been practicing their skills. Chuck had gone over the rules of the game with them, but were they ready to take their positions on the baseball diamond?

“Do you mean it?” Benny asked excitedly. He was all set to root the team on to victory.

“Who would we be playing against?” Michael asked.

“Beginners, I hope,” Nicole said under her breath.

“It’s a team over in the next county, and they’re starting out, just like you.” Coach Warren looked down at his clipboard. “They call themselves the Pirates, and they’ve been playing for a month. Their coach called me last night, and asked if we’d be interested.” He waited while everyone thought it over. “Well,” he said finally, “are you ready for it?”

“We’re ready!” Benny shouted. Everyone laughed. Leave it to Benny to speak for the whole team.

“Anybody else?” Coach Warren asked.

“I think we can do it,” Henry volunteered.

“So do I,” Michael spoke up.

“We might as well give it a try,” Nicole said with a shrug.

“Let’s do it,” Susan Miller said.

“Count me in,” Jessie offered, stepping forward.

“Me, too,” Violet echoed. She was really getting better, and was excited at the thought of a real game.

Coach Warren grinned. “Great.” He glanced at his watch. “Let’s get to work, because game time is just two days away. Ten o’clock in Clarksville.”

“So it’s us against the Pirates,” Henry said.

“Hey,” Benny said suddenly, “what are we called?”

“That’s a good point,” Chuck said. “We need to choose a name.”

“We better find one quick.” Jessie looked at her teammates. “Anyone have any ideas?”

Benny thought hard. Tigers, ducks, wildcats, bulls … what would be a good name? Then he remembered his mascot, Stockings. “I’ve got it,” he yelled. He held up Stockings. “We can be the Bears.”

“The Bears. I like it!” Susan patted him on the back. Everyone started cheering, until Coach Warren blew his whistle. “Okay, now that we’ve got that settled, let’s get back to practice.” He tugged on the peak of his baseball cap and looked at them very seriously. “Play ball, Bears!”

Later that afternoon, a little four-year-old girl appeared at the edge of the field. She was wearing a pink sundress, and holding Mr. Jackson’s hand.

“This is my granddaughter,” Mr. Jackson said proudly, when Jessie and Benny wandered over during a break. “Her name’s Sarah.”

“Hi, Sarah.” Jessie bent down so she was on eye level with the little girl. “That’s a pretty doll you have.” She pointed to a Raggedy Ann doll that Sarah was clutching.

“She loves dolls,” Mr. Jackson said. “Stuffed animals, too. Her room’s full of them.”

Sarah stayed for the rest of the practice, watching as Jessie and Violet worked on their pitching and fielding.

“I’ll never get these ground balls,” Violet said. She shook her head as the third ball in a row skirted past her ankles.

“Remember what Henry said,” Michael reminded her. “Hold your glove with the fingers to the ground. That way you can scoop up the ball as it rolls into the glove.”

“And don’t shut your eyes,” Jessie reminded her.

“I’ll try,” Violet promised. This time she didn’t turn her head or squeeze her eyes shut. She looked straight at the ball, dropped to one knee and scooped it up as it whizzed right into her glove. “I got it!” she said happily.

Before practice broke up, Coach Warren gathered everyone together for a little pep talk. The sun was setting and a soft breeze swept over the playing field. The Aldens were sitting cross-legged on the grass as the Coach paced up and down in front of the players.

“You’ve been working hard,” he said, “and I think we’ve got a good team.” He glanced at Henry and Benny. “And I don’t mean just the players. Our two special assistants have done a great job.” Benny looked at Henry and broke into a wide grin.

“But I want to give you a little advice.” He clapped his hands behind his back and strode up and down. “Do you know the first rule of baseball?”

Susan called out. “Keep your eye on the ball?”

Coach Warren nodded. “That’s part of it. I was thinking of the bigger picture.” He paused and looked at the circle of players. “Something I’ve had to remind you of from time to time.”

Nicole guessed it. “Keep your mind on the game?” Just yesterday, Chuck had caught her daydreaming while she was waiting for the pitcher to throw the ball.

“That’s it,” the coach said approvingly. “I want you to think about the game
all
the time.”

“I think we do. Usually,” Michael spoke up. He grinned. “But I guess we all can try harder.
”

“That’s the spirit,” Coach Warren said. “Remember, there may be innings when you have nothing to do in the outfield. Even if your body has nothing to do, 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?

“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, he’s still our mascot, even if he’s not with us.”