9 Diamonds Area Boy’s Best Friend

CHAPTER 9 DIAMONDS ARE A BOY'S BEST FRIEND I get to the ballpark early. No one's there. I stand at home plate and look out over the field. Soon this diamond will sparkle with the brilliance of my skills: batting, catching, running, jumping, skipping, hopping, and throwing. I'm going to be the most valuable player on the team. I'm going to be a star.

Eric and his dad arrive. Mr. Porter has a bag full of bats and balls. "Go out in the field, boys, and I'll hit you a few." Eric and I head out. Boy, it's a long walk. "Here it comes!" shouts Mr. Porter. He hits a high fly ball. "It's mine!" shouts Eric and he catches it. "Good, son," says Mr. Porter. "Here comes another one..." Crack! It's another high fly. "It's mine," shouts Eric, and he runs over and catches it. "Good catch," shouts Mr. Porter and he hits another one. This is the highest one yet. It

looks like its dropping out of a cloud. "It's yours," I shout to Eric. He runs over, leaps up, and catches it. He winks at me and throws the ball back to his dad. WOW!

"This one's for you, Hubie," says Mr. Porter. "It's okay," I say. "I don't mind sharing." "Here it comes, Hubie," says Mr. Porter, taking a tremendous swing that lifts the ball high into the sky. I don't even see it for a while. Then I do. It's a tiny missile and it's heading straight for me. If I miss this one I'll never get another chance. I won't make the team. I may not even make the bench.

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It's dropping fast. I won't get a cap or a team T-shirt. I'll be the batboy or the water boy. Should I run in? Should I run back? Should I run away? It's headed straight for me and it's bringing the whole weight of the sky with it. I hold up Grabber and close my eyes... Whomp! It lands right in my pocket. I open my eyes, and there's a white ball resting in my glove like an egg in a nest. I take a deep breath, wink at Eric, and throw the ball back to his dad.