Part Seven

The next day everyone got ready to go to the park for the stickball game and a picnic afterwards. Bosco and HM ran over to join the practice.

Bo greeted them. "Hey Bosco why don't you let HM here practice hitting the ball? I'll have Daisy pitch to him."

Bosco nodded his head and told HM to stand near home plate. He then told HM to remember how to stand. Daisy looked toward home plate she smiled and tossed a fast ball to him, and he swung. "Strike one", yelled someone from the team. He concentrated and she tossed him the ball again. He swung again. "Strike two."

"Come on HM just meet the ball," yelled Bosco

HM nodded his head and as the ball came he wrack it sending it flying into Perry Brent's hand. "I did it! I did it!"

"He did it, he did it!" yelled another teammate. Grinning they lead HM off the field and he sat down on some grass on the sideline he watched as Bosco came up to practice hit.

Suddenly a mean looking boy walked up to HM. "Hi I heard you are the Silver Bullets new pitcher. He grabbed HM and pulled him to his feet. "You get this straight country boy. There is no way you are going to strike me out if you do you will be going back to your home in a coffin."

Seeing that his friend was in trouble, Bosco pushed his way up to Chris Milligan, and said, "You better be layin' off our new pitcher, Milligan. Don' wan' ya threaten 'im. C'mon HM", scowled Bosco.

Bosco glared at Milligan, and stormed off. Leaving Milligan a little scared, but out for revenge nonetheless. Milligan turned around and looked at his friend Pete. "We can't let that country boy pitch. He's good."

"What do we do Chris? Break his arm?"

"No you idiot tell the coach. I think they may be a rule against this."

So Pete got away from the talk, and went to find his coach. "Coach, Coach", said Pete.

Greg Cruise turned around and asked, "Yeah Pete what is it?"

Pete turned to look at Chris who mouth go on. Greg waited. "Coach the Silver Bullets have a new pitcher but it's in the middle of the season. Can they do that?"

Greg nodded his head, "There nothing against the rules Pete as long as his coach okay it."

Pete turned and shrugged at Chris. Chris frowned, and went up to Greg. He said, "Coach, the Silver Bullets' Coach doesn't even know yet. He's gonna be surprised when he finds out." As if on cue the Silver Bullets' Coach Nick Garrett arrived.

Greg looked at him "Hey Nick. I heard you got a new pitcher."

Nick nodded his head '"Yeah Greg and this time we are going to beat you."

Greg smiled. "Let see his transfer papers from his other coach."

Nick thought for a moment. "Oh yeah I better get them. Greg you and your team are going down."

Greg smiled, "Don't bet on it Garrett."

Nick Garrett went to the place where the boys were assembled, he called Bosco over to him, and asked, "Is the new pitcher here?"

Bosco nodded, and motioned for HM to stand near him.

"Hi I'm HM", grinned HM.

"Nice to meet you, and now I need to ask you something", answered Nick. "Do you have your transfer papers?"

Bosco and HM exchanged glances. "Transfer paper?" Bosco asked.

"Yes Bosco I need his transfer papers without them he can't play."

Bosco looked his coach into eyes as best he could. "That is not fair coach. HM is good."

"I'm sorry Bosco rules are rules." Nick called over to Daisy. "Daisy you are pitching."

He turned back to HM. "Sorry kid maybe next time."

HM looked very disappointed. He didn't know what to say. Bosco looked at the coach again, and tried for one more time. "What is it Bosco?" sighed the coach.

"Coach, there won't be a next time for HM. He's gonna be leaving here right after the game. Can't he at least pitch one inning? He's really good", finished Bosco.

The coach sighed. "Bosco the only way he can play is if someone doesn't play. One of the other kids will have to sit the game out. Now is that fair to them?"

Bosco sighed, and hung his head. "No Coach, it's not fair to them, but it ain't fair to HM either. He's really good. If only there was some sort of loophole."

. He sat down again, and folded his hands in his lap. He looked over at HM, and gave him a pitying look. "Sorry HM", he mouthed.

Daisy smiled she knew HM was good, way better then she was. "Hey coach. I will sit this game out."

Coach Garrett looked over at Daisy and asked. "Are you sure you want to do that Daisy?"

Daisy nodded. "I've pitched lots of times, and HM's better then I am."

She smiled again, and sat down. Coach Garrett looked over at HM, and called him over. "Son you're pitching."

HM let out a whooping yelling and ran over to the pitcher mount. He waited as the first batter came up to the home plate. He swallowed it was the boy who threatened him earlier.

"Hey country boy a coffin."

HM smiled at the boy and let the ball rip across the sky. "Strike one!" called the Umpire. Again HM let the ball rip across the sky, and again the Umpire yelled. "Strike two."

Chris Milligan glared daggers into the pitcher. "I'm going to make your life miserable runt." Chris yelled.

"Oh really?" HM asked. "I'd like to see you try." Once more the ball was thrown, and Chris was struck out. Chris threw down the stick and head towards HM.

Suddenly Bosco got in front of him. "You touch on hair of him Milligan, and I will eat you for breakfast."

Chris stared at Bosco. He back down knowing Bosco could beat the heck out of him.

He shook his head. "The runt not worth it." He then walked away.

HM nodded a thank you and got ready for the next player. He threw the ball, but was a little shaken by what Chris had done, and threw a blindly.

"Ball one", shouted the Ump.

HM threw the ball again.

"Ball two", shouted the Ump again.

Finally HM threw a third time, and it was a strike. HM rubbed the ball between his hand. He studied the boy .He threw the ball soon striking him out. The game was soon over with the Silver Bullet wining 5 to 4. HM even got a hit.

Coach Garrett gathered them around, "Come on guys ice cream for everyone."

HM followed the team off the field, and they got some ice cream. After ice cream, Bosco and HM found their relatives. They were sitting on a blanket underneath a tree, and were waiting for the picnic to begin.

"That was an exceptional game Howard, and Bosco", said Gran'pa.

"You boys did very well", said Gramma.

"You won", exalted Mary.

The boys blushed, and they sat down on the blanket. Jesper looked at HM. "HM I got some exciting news to tell you."

HM looked at his Gran'pa . "What Gran'pa? Do I get to stay?"

His Gran'pa shook his head. "No. But Mary and Bosco are coming to stay for a week."

HM's and Bosco's eyes got really big. "They are? When Gran'pa when?" asked an excited HM.

"Right when we have to go home?" Gran'pa glanced at the women. "You tell him Jassa."

"HM, Mary and I decided that you two have not spend enough time together and the country would be good for Bosco."

HM turned to Bosco. "Wow you will have fun. I will teach you how to ride my horse. His name is Gallop. He's really fast and you'll get to see all the chickens, the horses and the..." He was cut off by Bosco's hand to his mouth.

"I get the picture HM. Really I do. So when are we leavin' Mama, today tomorrow? When?" Bosco was also getting excited. Which was rare for him, since Bart had died.

"We are leaving today by plane," said Jesper.

Bosco face turn ashen he looked like he was going to pass out. He got up and stared at his mama. "I'm not going!"

He then turned and ran. Mary stood up. "Baby come back."

"What's wrong with Bosco?" asked a mystified HM.

. "You see when Bosco was six, his father died in a plane crash. Ever since then, he's hated to fly bring up the subject, well he still remembers..."

HM looked at his grandparents, and Mary. He wondered to himself 'How can anybody hate flying?'

Jesper looked at everyone. "I wish there was some way around it."

"I know," cried HM. "Why don't we take the train?"

The adults looked at HM. "Honey that a wonderful idea. I think we can stay a little longer, replied Jesper

Thank you." Jassa smiled at her Grandson. "HM I am so proud of you giving up a plane ride for Bosco."

"Ah gee Gramma. Bosco my friend."

Mary smiled, "And you're a very good friend for giving up a plane ride. Your grandparents have told me how much you love to fly."

HM blushed, and went to go find where Bosco ran off to, and tell him the news, that they weren't going to fly but actually take a train which, HM reasoned to him self, actually flew around a track at amazing speeds.

Suddenly HM was surrounded by Chris and his gang "Hey runt Bosco ain't around to protect you. I told you if you struck me out you would paid for it."

HM back away trying to find a place to run but he was completely surrounded? He saw nowhere to run and Bosco was nowhere in sight

End of Part 7