Read Jinxed! for Free Online

so.
    â€œNice play! I wish that guy in center was on my team,” said the friendly Humdinger. He grabbed his glove and headed out to left field. I checked the lineup for his name. It was Brian Somerset, a real major leaguer! He was just off the disabled list and getting back up to speed in the minors.
    I had Somerset’s baseball card. I even had it with me. I didn’t know he would be at the game. I could have shown his card to Dylan. The back of the card said, “Brian Somerset started out as a batboy for the Shreveport Captains of the Texas League.” I thought Dylan would like that.
    I wanted Brian Somerset to sign my card,but my binder was in the Porcupines’ locker room. Pokey and Spike were leading a bunch of little kids through an obstacle course, so I had a few minutes to run and get the card. I just needed an excuse to slip away.
    Tommy led off for the Porcupines. He went through the whole routine of checking his laces, pulling up his socks, and rubbing his bat.
    â€œYou’re batting, not having your picture taken!” Ernie shouted.
    I chased down one foul and ignored a chorus of kids begging for the ball. Tommy struck out a few pitches later.
    Myung came up. He bounced one toward third base and nearly reached first. It looked like he beat the throw, but the first base umpire called him out. The crowd booed.
    â€œHey, umpire! What game are youwatching?” Ernie shouted. “The one we’re watching, the guy was safe!”
    It was Mike’s turn to bat.
    â€œI hope you hit better than you field!” Ernie shouted.
    Mike took a couple of pitches and then banged a double to left field. The crowd cheered.
    Sammy Solaris came up to bat. The crowd cheered and stomped. Sammy was the best hitter on the team. He fouled a ball back into the stands, took a pitch, and then knocked the ball into the outfield.
    Mike sprinted, taking a big turn at third and heading home. The Humdinger center fielder fired the ball toward the plate. Mike had plenty of time to score, but he hesitated. He who hesitates is lost, and Mike was definitely lost. The catcher tagged him out. The crowd groaned.
    It wasn’t even the jinx this time. Mike was jinxed on defense, but he had always been good on offense. He was losing trust in himself, just like the rest of the Porcupines were.
    If he didn’t break that jinx soon, Mike was done for as a ballplayer.

t was the Humdingers’ turn to bat again. Brian Somerset was first up. He hit a single and spent most of the inning standing on first base.
    I still needed to fetch his baseball card from the Pines’ locker room anyway. Too bad I was stuck in the Humdingers’ dugout.
    The shortstop was chomping on a big wad of gum. Every few seconds he would blow a bubble. He’d let it get bigger and bigger and then . . . POP!
    â€œCould you please knock that off?” asked Grankowski.
    â€œKnock what off?” the shortstop mumbled around his gum.

    â€œSnapping your gum. It’s getting on my nerves,” Grankowski replied.
    â€œFine, I’ll stop popping bubbles,” said the shortstop. He blew a really big bubble, but this time he didn’t pop it.
    â€œThat’s even worse,” Grankowski grumbled. He looked away.
    The shortstop removed the gum, bubble and all, and carefully attached it to the center of Grankowski’s cap.
    Every other guy in the dugout cracked up.
    â€œWhat’s going on?” Grankowski reached up and accidentally poked the bubble. POP!
    â€œGreat. Now my cap is ruined.” He took it off and looked at the blotch of gum.
    â€œOops,” said the shortstop.
    This was the perfect chance to go get my binder!
    â€œWe’ve got a bubblegum removal kit,” I said. We really did—I’d seen it in the Porcupines’ equipment room.
    â€œGo get it!” said Grankowski.
    â€œAnd get me some more gum,” added the shortstop.
    I bolted through the Humdingers’ locker