Can I sign that for you Logan Jasper nodded at the baseball in Logan’s hand Oh Yeah Please He handed over the baseball Jasper scribbled his name on it with a Sharpie So what position do you play Jasper asked him Pitcher Cool He handed the ball back to Logan Keep those batters guessing Thanks Annie shoved past Logan and slapped her photo onto the table Hi she said I’m a huge fan Jasper laughed 8
Logan waited while the rest of his friends had their items signed Then they stood together and snapped a photo with Jasper Holt on one of their phones As they walked back through the crowd of people still waiting for an autograph Logan spied someone they knew Hey there’s Sal he said Sal Horton was a large barrel-chested man with wispy hair a gray beard and a wide smile He owned the kids favorite shop in town Sal’s Used Sporting Goods Sal always had a knack for knowing just the thing to help Logan and his friends out when they were struggling at a sport Standing next to Sal was his son Patrick Patrick looked very much like his father but his beard was brown and he wore a pair of thick-framed glasses 9
Sal Annie waved as their group dashed over to the two Hortons Hello Sal’s voice was booming even in the crowded confines of Mega-Sports Isn’t Mega-Sports kind of enemy territory Sal Logan said with a smile Sal chuckled Not at all I sell mostly used sports equipment he said Besides I couldn’t miss a chance to see Jasper Holt I went to high school with him Patrick explained He was a few years younger than me but we played ball together He was good pitching for the varsity team when he was in ninth grade Whoa Logan thought He couldn’t imagine pitching against high school seniors And I was fortunate enough to be his coach for a time Sal said It’s just 10
wonderful to see how well he’s doing Hard work and persistence pay off kids The line began to move again and Sal and Patrick took a few steps forward Logan and his friends said goodbye and then made their way out of Mega-Sports back into the mall and off to the food court for a bite to eat 11
