The Hitting Zone Chapter 389 Friday’s Game

The library plan was a good one, up until Mrs. Atkins handed a lunch bag.

"Here ya go." She gave one to not only , but to all her boys. "I made everyone’s favorites. I know you’ll be eating on the bus, so be careful not to spill or make a ss."

"Eating on the bus?" I asked, feeling like my idea was already a dud. If we have to eat on the bus, then I can’t sneak to the library during lunch. The plan would have to be shelved until Monday.

"Yea, Trinity High School is another three hour ride." Noah sighed. "We won’t get back until ten or eleven tonight."

"Are we riding with the girls today?" Dave asked.

"No." Kyle sulked. "It’s the three boy’s teams. It’s going to be cramd." He pouted towards his mom. "Please drive us ho?"

Mrs. Atkins laughed. "No way, young man. You’ll be sticking with your team." She paused. "Plus, we won’t be coming to today’s ga."

"What?!" Noah asked.

"Why not?" Dave said at the sa ti.

"Your father and I have so work to do this afternoon." She gave a tight smile.

"Work is more important than us?" Kyle moaned.

"Boys." Mr. Atkins said with a warning tone. "Are you giving your mother a hard ti?" He walked in, sat at the head of the table, and picked up a slice of toast. "If you must know, we have to et with Jake’s social worker in the San Francisco office."

"Mr. Duncan?" I asked, feeling slightly nervous. "Why?" Did I do sothing wrong? Did they find my dad? Which is it?

"Just a normal check-in on our part." He explained. "You’ve been with us for about two months now. We just have to go in and answer so questions about you and about ourselves."

"What-What about ?" I asked, my anxiety climbing.

"Just normal questions about your behavior and everyday life."

"Like a performance review?" Dave asked.

Mr. Atkins laughed. "Yea, sothing like that. We’re normally an ergency foster family that takes in a kid that’s younger and that only stays for a few weeks at best. But with Jake, we might long term." He smiled at . "You’re okay with that right?"

I nodded. Definitely.

"This is just social services making sure that we’re taking care of you. That we know how you’re performing in school. They’ll also check-in with Dr. Moore."

"There’ll be a ho visit soon too." Mrs. Atkins added. "You boys have nothing to worry about so just play your ga. Do well!"

The boys cald down with their explanations, and so did I. As long it’s just routine then there’s nothing to worry. I can just look the guy up on Monday. If I force it, and try and use Noah’s laptop or sothing, I’m more likely to get caught. If there’s a ho visit coming soon, it’s best to pretend everything’s normal.

With our lunches in our bags, and bags in the car, we headed for school. Like always, Mr. Miller gave and Noah a ride up to the school. Unlike our normal routine, Noah took around to turn in our howork for our later classes, health and math. I waited for him to dump his math howork at his class, then we went to mine that I shared with the twins.

The old old man almost looked like he was dozing off when I walked in. I quietly sat it on his desk and made my escape.

"Jake, a minute of your ti please?" The old man ’woke up’ and froze in my tracks.

I turned around and gulped. "Yes?"

"Co back, I won’t bite." He waved over, slowly rising from his chair.

I inched to his desk, not really willing. What if he found out that the twins copy my work? Am I going to get in trouble?

"I know about the ga today. Good luck out there. The team really missed you yesterday."

Missed ? That’s not the first ti I heard that. "You watch our gas..?"

"When I can." The old man heaved a sigh. "I’m not able to travel to the away gas. And only if the ho gas are in the afternoon. But I keep an eye on the team with the league sports page online. You’re very impressive on the offense."

I turned shy at the complint. "Thanks." I whispered.

"You’re also wonderful in math. You make proud to be a teacher."

I turned really shy and looked down at the floor. How embarrassing. "Thanks again."

"I say this, not to embarrass you, but to reassure you." He continued. "I rember the mo the administration sent out when you ca. It warned us that you wouldn’t speak and probably will be antisocial. But I knew better."

I looked up at him, confused on why he was saying this.

"I used to be in the system myself." He laughed-coughed. "A long ti ago. But it still sits with ." He looked in the eye. "Sotis you need to hear how well you’re doing. How much you’ve improved."

I know that I’ve co a long way. A few months ago I was locked in the hospital, just trying to live again. "Thank you." I told him sincerely. It was good for to hear how well I’m doing from a near stranger. When you hear it from soone you know, it feels a little fake. Like they’re just trying to cheer you up.

"Okay, it’s best if you get going. Class will start soon." He went back to his desk and sat down. "Good luck today."

I waved and walked out, feeling pretty happy.

"What took you so long?" Noah asked, exasperated. He was leaning against the building. "Are you in trouble? Did he bust you?"

I shook my head. "We just talked." Okay, maybe he just talked and all I did was say ’thanks’.

Noah looked at with skepticism, but seeing that I wasn’t upset, he let it drop. We had to get to class.

The ga at Trinity was a blowout. We took them on with yesterday’s pep talk still fresh on our minds. We crushed them 13-0 in five innings. Kyle missed the perfect ga by giving up a walk and a pair of hits, but he was happy with the shutout. Noah was also in a better mood after tacking on three hits.

The only one that wasn’t satisfied was Dave. He wasn’t allowed to throw in the bullpen during the ga so he was stuck just watching us have fun. It wasn’t until the end of the ga, when Coach announced that he would get to start against OLU on Monday.

He jumped up with excitent. "Yes! Thanks Coach! I won’t let you and the team down!" He clenched his fist, excited.

"Don’t get ahead of yourself kid." Coach warned him. "This is your first ga back. We’ll be monitoring you closely. AND, there’ll be a pitch count."

Dave kept his smile. "No problem Coach! I won’t take it for granted! I’m just happy to play again! In a ga! Against a real opponent!" He bounced around like the energizer bunny.

Coach shook his head at Dave’s excitent. "As for the rest of you," He looked around. "I shouldn’t have to tell you how important Monday’s ga is. I won’t be forcing practice tomorrow. You’re on your own this weekend. Do what you see fit."