7 Going Batty

CHAPTER 7 GOING BATTY Everyone's pretty quiet on the bus home. Penny's not talking to Eric since he struck her out five times. Derek isn't talking to Penny because she took up all of recess at bat. Randy has started figuring out our stats, and I'm dreaming about when I'll be at bat.... Z-Z-Z-Z

The pitcher looks to the right, he looks to the left, he lifts his leg, he raises his arms, and he hurls the ball right over the plate. Strike one. I shake the bat on my shoulder. I stare straight at him. He looks to the right... he looks to the left. He raises his leg, lifts his arms, and hurls the ball right at me.

I close my eyes and swing with all my might. Strike two. Hey! Whose daydream is this anyway? It's not strike two—it's a hit! I feel the bat connect, there's a loud crack, and the ball is sailing up into the air. It's going, it's going, it's gone. The fans go wild as I circle the bases. YEAH! YEAH! YEAH! ALRIGHT! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! FANTASTIC! YEAH! ANSWER: 5 oz.

"You're home," says Freddy, nudging me. "I know," I answer, keeping my eyes closed. OH, BROTHER. I'M ROUNDING THIRD BASE, THE CROWD IS CHANTING MY NAME... HUBIE, HUBIE, WAKE UP! I WONDER IF HE EVEN KNOWS MY NAME? COOL.