Gracias said Diego He got his glove and ran out to play He got a base hit in his first turn at the plate and batted in a left field run The rain started coming down a lot harder in the sixth inning The game was called but enough innings had been played for the game to be official Danny O’Brien was still in the locker room after the game He had his leg stretched out on the bench and ice packs were taped to his ankle He was reading a paperback book How are you doing Danny Wayne Zane asked him I’m good said Danny He closed the book using his finger Are you sure asked Tommy the third baseman It looked to mark his place like a bad spill Sure I’m sure said Danny with a wince It doesn’t even hurt that much Really He opened his book again but he didn’t look happy I sat on the bench to towel off some of the equipment I liked hanging around the players after the game when they were joking around and ribbing each other Hey what are you reading Wayne asked Danny Trouble on the Mound said Danny It’s a Mike McKay mystery Oh yeah Mike McKay the Sports Detective I’ve read all of them said Wayne I think that’s the one where the pitching coach put the poison in the rosin bag Hey Danny said sputtering I’m only on page thirty
you just spoiled the ending Oops Wayne went to his locker Danny chucked the book and it bounced off the locker door next to Wayne You missed said Wayne Good thing you’re not a I was right there so I picked up the book and handed it back pitcher to Danny baseman slapped it Do I get three throws for a dollar he asked me I laughed Sure I’ll get you the dollar joked Teddy Larrabee the first Diego Prado walked by on his way to his locker Nice hit today Danny told him offering a hand Diego
Gracias I might need a few days to heal said Danny Hope you’re ready to play every day Diego answered in Spanish He hopes he is and he’s sorry you’re hurt said Lance Tell him Thanks and I’ll be fine said Danny to Lance He knows said Lance He understands almost everything you guys say He just can’t speak English Diego nodded and said something else in Spanish He says he knows enough English to get Wayne’s jokes said Lance Poor guy said Danny Dylan returned from the other dugout He was the other batboy and he had been in the visitors dugout helping the Cougars Hey Wally he said to the clubhouse manager who was our boss I have something important to talk to you about What’s up It’s kind of secret said Dylan looking around the locker room OK Let’s meet in my office Wally’s office was nothing but a desk in the equipment room but Dylan followed him in there I was dressed and ready to leave Then I remembered that it was still raining so I looked for my rainproof poncho Wally had given both Dylan and me Porcupine ponchos a while back My locker was kind of a mess I had extra clothes game-day souvenirs and a bunch of other junk I kept meaning to sort it
