Read Online The Contract by Derek Jeter, Paul Mantell - Free Book Online Page B

a—”
    â€œDerek Jeter!” Ms. Wagner called. “Are you following the lesson, or do you and your friends need a conversation break?”
    The whole class laughed—even Jeff and Gary. Just his luck that he’d been the one talking when she’d turned around and noticed.
    â€œNo, Ms. Wagner. Sorry,” he said.
    â€œAll right, then. Let’s move forward,” she said, wiping the chalk dust off her hands. “Now, class. Be quiet and pay attention. I have your math tests here.”
    She took a pile of papers off her desk and started passing them out. “Most of you did well, a few of you need to hit the books a little harder . . .”
    Derek took the paper she handed him, and stared in disbelief at the mark he’d gotten— 84 ! He couldn’t believe it. He hadn’t gotten less than a 90 on a math test all year!
    He thought back to that last day of studying, when he hadn’t been able to concentrate because his mind had kept wandering back to his problems with his Little League team. How had he let this happen? It might have been an okay grade for somebody else, but to Derek an 84 on a math test—any test—was a disaster!
    He knew his parents would feel the same way. That’s why focusing on schoolwork was in the contract, and now he had already broken it. They expected the best from him, and he usually delivered. This time he’d fallen way short of what he expected of himself. Forget about beating out Gary. He hadn’t come close to his own usual high grades!
    Gary came over to brag. “Ninety-seven! Fourth time in a row!” he said, waving his test in Derek’s face. “How’d you do, Mr. Yankees Shortstop?”
    Shaking his head and staring down at his desk, Derek took his hand off the paper to reveal the horrifying truth.
    â€œEighty-four! Whoa. That stinks, even for you!” Gary said, faking sympathy. “Hey, maybe you should study more, instead of wasting all your time playing sports?”
    Derek had no answer for him. But he was seething inside. Somehow, even if he had to study until his eyes crossed, he was going to beat Gary Parnell on their next math test!

Chapter Eight
    PLAY BALL!
    Coach Kozlowski’s lineup for the Tigers’ second game—against the Mets—was the same as for their opener. Derek was at second base, batting second. He didn’t like it, but he wasn’t thinking about that today. He was thinking about winning a ball game.
    The Tigers were the “visiting” team again, which really only meant they batted first, since all the kids were from the same part of town. Chris led off with a walk.
    Derek came to the plate next. He couldn’t wait to get a swing at the ball, but he remembered what his dad had told him: “Take the first pitch from a pitcher you haven’t seen before, just to get an idea of what kind of stuff he has.”
    He watched the first pitch go by for a strike. As soon as the catcher caught it, Chris took off for second base. His steal attempt caught the catcher by surprise, and his late throw to second was off, ending up in center field. 
    Chris wound up on third, and Derek smelled a run batted in for the taking. 
    The next pitch was in the dirt. Another fastball, but unlike the first one, it was easy for Derek to let this one go by. Not too fast for him to catch up with, he noted, digging into the batter’s box.
    The third pitch was right down the middle.
    Derek swung so hard, his feet left the ground. He barely hit the ball off the end of the bat. Luckily, it skittered down the first baseline, right between the first baseman and the bag. “Fair ball!” the umpire called.
    Chris scored, and Derek wound up on second with a squib double. He clapped his hands together so hard it hurt, but he didn’t care. “That’s what I’m talkin’ about!” he yelled to himself.
    Pete came to the plate. With the first