Read Online Lost Boy by Tim Green - Free Book Online

uniforms, either white or gray, a blue hat with a white A and a red brim.
    Thomas Trent from the Atlanta Braves was one of MLB’s top closers, and it all came together in Ryder’s mind. He had heard that name, even though he wasn’t a big Braves fan.
    Thomas Trent was rich.
    He was practically famous.
    And—judging from the resemblance he had to Ryder’s own face, dark curly hair, and striking green eyes—he just might be Ryder’s dad. The possibility gripped Ryder by the throat and tossed him about until he was dizzy. Thomas Trent was the kind of father he’d secretly wished for all his life. That came out in a flood, the realization that he had ached for a father. Almost any father would have done.
    He couldn’t help thinking how different his life would have been and how different it might now be, with a father. He realized not having one was a big part of why he’d been so shy and so reluctant to make friends. It was because he felt like something was wrong with him, that he was missing something andnot as good as other people. He realized now, amid the raging storm of emotions swirling through him, that if Thomas Trent was his father, Ryder’s life would never be the same.
    Mr. Starr’s hand flopped from the computer touchpad to the arm of his wheelchair and the chair buzzed a quarter turn so that their eyes met.
    â€œYou realize, don’t you?” Mr. Starr said, as if he’d been able to read Ryder’s mind. “This changes everything.” Mr. Starr turned back to the computer, muttering. “I know they’re having the interleague games early this year; I mean, I know it would be a crazy coincidence, but . . .”
    Mr. Starr worked his touchpad and pulled up the Atlanta Braves schedule. “Ha! Talk about fate? They’re here.”
    â€œWho? Where?”
    Mr. Starr spun his chair again so that he faced Ryder. “The Braves. They played the Yankees yesterday and today and they’ve got an afternoon game tomorrow. First pitch is at 1:05. Your father is in this city somewhere, right now.”

The next morning, the sound of keys in the door again jarred Ryder from his sleep. He bolted up from the couch. The sudden memory of the accident and everything else tilted the room beneath him, but the thought of saving his mother was rocket fuel in his veins, and before he’d fallen asleep on the couch, he and Mr. Starr had devised a plan to do just that.
    The door swung open and the morning nurse walked in. This nurse was quite different from Amy Gillory, young and pretty and pleasant, but she didn’t seem to know how to react to Ryder.
    â€œHi, I’m Ashleigh Love.” The nurse forced a smile and shook hands with Ryder.
    Before Ryder could speak, Mr. Starr’s bedroom door burst open and his chair buzzed right out at them.
    â€œAnd the name fits. Loving and lovely.” Mr. Starr wore noexpression, so Ryder didn’t know if he was trying to be funny or if he really appreciated Ashleigh’s pleasant disposition. “Ashleigh, this is my nephew, Ryder.”
    Ashleigh nodded at Ryder then turned her attention to Mr. Starr. “Well, are you ready?”
    â€œDon’t you love a person who gets right down to business, Ryder?” Mr. Starr’s eyes sparkled.
    â€œSure.” Ryder knew nothing else he could say.
    Mr. Starr allowed Ashleigh to wheel him into the bathroom without any of the harsh words he’d had for the night nurse. Ashleigh waved back to Ryder, then shut the door and he heard her clucking over Mr. Starr like a mother hen.
    Ryder tried not to listen to the sounds of Ashleigh Love cleaning up Mr. Starr to make him ready for the day, but when something happened that caused the nurse to yelp and apologize, Mr. Starr started yelling at her too. Ryder felt his face go hot and he slipped out of the apartment and across the hall to his own place to eat some cereal and put on fresh