Read Online Mystery at the Ballpark by Gertrude Chandler Warner - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Gertrude Chandler Warner
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make new leather look old,” Violet finished for him.
Mr. Jackson laughed. “Well, I can explain the saltshaker to you. Hard-boiled eggs. I love ’em. Eat ’em all the time.” He grinned. “But what’s a hard-boiled egg without salt? Anyway, why would I want to hurt the team?”
“You said you didn’t think girls should be on the team,” said Benny.
“Well,” Mr. Jackson said, “I’m beginning to realize I was wrong about that. Very wrong.” He looked at Jessie and she smiled.
“But I saw you snooping around the lockers one day,” Benny said. “You said they needed painting, but I knew they didn’t.”
“Oh, that.” Mr. Jackson was embarrassed. “I have a little confession to make, Benny. I was trying to sneak Stockings back into your locker, but you caught me.”
“Stockings! You found Stockings?” Benny was thrilled. He had his teddy bear back.
Mr. Jackson nodded. “My little granddaughter picked him up, Benny. But I was afraid everyone would think I’d stolen the other missing things.”
“What about the bat?” Susan said suddenly. “How come I ended up with Ann’s bat?”
“I’m responsible for that,” Mrs. Sealy said. “I thought that if they suspected you of taking it, they’d throw you off the team.”
“Edna! That was a terrible thing to do,” Susan’s mother said.
“I know.” Mrs. Sealy stared at the ground. She looked very sad.
“Where’s my glove?” Jessie spoke up. “I hope you didn’t sell it!”
“It’s in the trunk of my car,” Mrs. Sealy said. “We can get it right now.”
They walked silently to the parking lot, and Mrs. Sealy opened the trunk of her car and handed Jessie her glove.
Jessie thrust her hand inside it. She felt the little rough spot inside. This was the real glove from Aunt Jane!
“I think I better leave now,” Mrs. Sealy said quietly. Everyone was watching her except Mrs. Miller, who had her arm around Susan.
“Wait, there’s still something I don’t understand,” Jessie said. “What did you mean when you said that Coach Warren was in for the surprise of his life? I thought you and Mr. Jackson were plotting something.”
“No, for once I wasn’t plotting anything,” Mrs. Sealy said. “Just a surprise birthday party.”
“Something else is bothering me.” Nicole stepped out of the crowd. “Did you cut the cables in the van that day?”
“Yes, I did.” Mrs. Sealy’s voice was so low Nicole could hardly hear her. “I wanted you to miss the first game of the season. I’ll pay for the repairs.”
“I suppose you took the keys to my van, too,” Coach Warren said angrily.
Mrs. Sealy nodded.
“We thought you took them,” Jessie said quietly to Chuck.
“And we thought you got lost on purpose, too,” Michael added.
Chuck took off his baseball cap and ran his fingers through his hair. “No, I’m afraid I’m just lousy at directions.”
“Who was that boy we saw you with in the store?” Benny asked. “He plays for the Pirates.”
“Oh, that’s my little brother, Danny,” Chuck said.
“You have a brother who plays baseball!” Jessie exclaimed. “Why didn’t you tell us about him?”
“I was going to tell you about him when the season was over. I thought you might think it was kind of strange that he was playing for the other team.” He paused for a moment. “You see, Danny joined the Pirates way before I started working for Coach Warren.”
“We’ve certainly cleared up a lot of things,” Henry said.
“I’m really sorry,” Mrs. Sealy said in a small voice. “I just wanted Susan to quit the team.” She looked so miserable, everyone felt sorry for her.
“Well, we all make mistakes,” Coach Warren said gruffly. “Maybe we should just forget this one.” Everyone was quiet while Mrs. Sealy started the car and pulled out of the parking lot.
“I’m glad that’s over!” Chuck said, letting out a long breath.
“I’m glad that you figured out what was going on,” Coach Warren
Mr. Jackson laughed. “Well, I can explain the saltshaker to you. Hard-boiled eggs. I love ’em. Eat ’em all the time.” He grinned. “But what’s a hard-boiled egg without salt? Anyway, why would I want to hurt the team?”
“You said you didn’t think girls should be on the team,” said Benny.
“Well,” Mr. Jackson said, “I’m beginning to realize I was wrong about that. Very wrong.” He looked at Jessie and she smiled.
“But I saw you snooping around the lockers one day,” Benny said. “You said they needed painting, but I knew they didn’t.”
“Oh, that.” Mr. Jackson was embarrassed. “I have a little confession to make, Benny. I was trying to sneak Stockings back into your locker, but you caught me.”
“Stockings! You found Stockings?” Benny was thrilled. He had his teddy bear back.
Mr. Jackson nodded. “My little granddaughter picked him up, Benny. But I was afraid everyone would think I’d stolen the other missing things.”
“What about the bat?” Susan said suddenly. “How come I ended up with Ann’s bat?”
“I’m responsible for that,” Mrs. Sealy said. “I thought that if they suspected you of taking it, they’d throw you off the team.”
“Edna! That was a terrible thing to do,” Susan’s mother said.
“I know.” Mrs. Sealy stared at the ground. She looked very sad.
“Where’s my glove?” Jessie spoke up. “I hope you didn’t sell it!”
“It’s in the trunk of my car,” Mrs. Sealy said. “We can get it right now.”
They walked silently to the parking lot, and Mrs. Sealy opened the trunk of her car and handed Jessie her glove.
Jessie thrust her hand inside it. She felt the little rough spot inside. This was the real glove from Aunt Jane!
“I think I better leave now,” Mrs. Sealy said quietly. Everyone was watching her except Mrs. Miller, who had her arm around Susan.
“Wait, there’s still something I don’t understand,” Jessie said. “What did you mean when you said that Coach Warren was in for the surprise of his life? I thought you and Mr. Jackson were plotting something.”
“No, for once I wasn’t plotting anything,” Mrs. Sealy said. “Just a surprise birthday party.”
“Something else is bothering me.” Nicole stepped out of the crowd. “Did you cut the cables in the van that day?”
“Yes, I did.” Mrs. Sealy’s voice was so low Nicole could hardly hear her. “I wanted you to miss the first game of the season. I’ll pay for the repairs.”
“I suppose you took the keys to my van, too,” Coach Warren said angrily.
Mrs. Sealy nodded.
“We thought you took them,” Jessie said quietly to Chuck.
“And we thought you got lost on purpose, too,” Michael added.
Chuck took off his baseball cap and ran his fingers through his hair. “No, I’m afraid I’m just lousy at directions.”
“Who was that boy we saw you with in the store?” Benny asked. “He plays for the Pirates.”
“Oh, that’s my little brother, Danny,” Chuck said.
“You have a brother who plays baseball!” Jessie exclaimed. “Why didn’t you tell us about him?”
“I was going to tell you about him when the season was over. I thought you might think it was kind of strange that he was playing for the other team.” He paused for a moment. “You see, Danny joined the Pirates way before I started working for Coach Warren.”
“We’ve certainly cleared up a lot of things,” Henry said.
“I’m really sorry,” Mrs. Sealy said in a small voice. “I just wanted Susan to quit the team.” She looked so miserable, everyone felt sorry for her.
“Well, we all make mistakes,” Coach Warren said gruffly. “Maybe we should just forget this one.” Everyone was quiet while Mrs. Sealy started the car and pulled out of the parking lot.
“I’m glad that’s over!” Chuck said, letting out a long breath.
“I’m glad that you figured out what was going on,” Coach Warren
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