Chapter 8, Thermometer Ball
"And now it's time, for the final game, Thermometer Ball." Said Fred, as he headed over to a small basketball court, where Rosie's dad Terry and Rosie were standing, waiting to hear the rules of the game.
"You like to play basketball Rosie?" Fred asked.
"Yes." Rosie replied.
"Well ok then! Now Rosie, in this game, you're going to pick up these basketballs, and toss as many as you can into that hoop." Explained Fred, as he pointed to a bucket full of basketballs on the floor, and then, up to a basketball hoop that was high up.
"And Terry, you'll help by making sure Rosie is at the right height to toss her ball into the basket." Said Fred.
"Ok." Said Terry with a grin.
"Are we ready?" Fred asked.
"Yes." Rosie replied.
"Ok, let's put forty-five seconds on the clock." Said Fred, as the clock was set.
"On your mark, get set, go!" Said Fred, as the clock started counting down, and Rosie, started picking up balls and tossing them into the hoop, Terry, lifting her up so Rosie could more easily be at a better height to successfully cause her ball to land into the hoop.
Rosie kept moving at a fast pace, as she tossed one ball after another into the basket. It was so invigorating, that poor Terry was starting to get tired, running out of breath, just trying to keep up with his daughter.
"Keep going Rosie, you're doing great!" Said Fred.
Tommy was giggling and cheering for Rosie, as he watched her with amazement, continuing to toss basketballs into the basket.
No sooner had Rosie thrown one more ball, filling up the basketball hoop over the brem, when the coocoo clock sounded, signaling the time had run out.
"Ok, let's count up how many balls you got into the basket." Said Fred, as he came over, and tossed the balls from the basket back into the bucket, counting out loud as he tossed the balls.
"One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen! Wow Rosie, you tossed fifteen balls into that hoop!" Said Fred.
"Wow!" Exclaimed Rosie.
"Yeah, wow is right! And we double your score, giving you thirty points! Congratulations!" Said Fred.
"Yay!" Rosie shouted at the top of her lungs, as she jumped out of her daddy's arms, and ran up to Tommy, who was already running out of his seat from where he was watching, as the two excited toddlers ran into one another, falling to the floor, giggling uncontrollably with excitement, over their victory.
"Wow! Those two are excited!" Said Fred.
"They sure are." Said Shannon.
"Way to go sis!" Mary called from some bleachers where she had been watching all of the action, as she came down and joined Tommy and her sister on the floor.
"Yay Tommy!" Dil cried, as he jumped out of Stu's arms, and went to join the crowd of excited kids.
Terry, all sweaty and out of breath from the vigorating lifting of Rosie during that last game, sat down on a nearby bench to catch his breath.
"Yeah, good job sweetheart." Terry said in between breaths.
"Well everyone, that was our last game, and you know what that means?" Fred asked.
"No." Tommy replied.
"You two will be getting your certificate, and get an opportunity, to pick out a toy, at the toy store!" Said Fred.
"Yay!" Tommy and Rosie exclaimed in unison.
And how will this go? Stay tuned, as we find out, in the next and final chapter of this story!