SUNDAY afternoon Kim received an invitation to Barbara Mae Pletz’s birthday party. Barbara Mae was his cousin. Her- mother and father, Aunt Carol and Uncle Jim, were favorites of his. They never forgot his birthday, either. The party was to be next Saturday afternoon. Aunt Carol would want him to sing.
Kim didn’t like that very much. But he supposed he would sing anyway. Funny how some people made such a fuss about a kid singing.
Later that evening Coach Stickles came to the house. He wore a felt hat and a topcoat. His cheeks were red from the cold. But he had a happy smile.
“Well, how does it feel to be in the play-offs?” he asked Kim.
“Good, Coach!” Kim grinned.
Kim’s father invited the coach into the living room. The coach did not take off his coat because he couldn’t stay long, he said. But he stayed an hour. They just talked about basketball.
“When do we play?” Kim asked.
“I don’t know yet,” the coach said. “We’re having a meeting tomorrow night to decide. I’ll let you know.”
On Tuesday evening the coach telephoned. “Kim, be at the gym at one o’clock, Saturday. We’re playing the Seals. The game starts at two, but we want everybody there early. Okay?”
“Okay!” said Kim.
Kim shook with excitement. He called up Jimmie Burdette and they talked for five minutes. Jimmie was as excited as he was.
When Kim hung up, his mother was standing beside him. She had a worried look on her face. Kim stared at her.
“What’s the matter, Mom?” he said.
She answered quietly. “Barbara Mae’s birthday party is Saturday afternoon.”
Kim’s heart went to pieces. He had forgotten about the party! He whirled before his mother could see the tears fill his eyes.
He dried the tears and turned to his mother. “Mom, do you suppose Aunt Carol would change the time of the party to Saturday morning if I asked her?”
His mother looked at him thoughtfully. “Well, it certainly won’t hurt to ask her!” She smiled. “Go ahead. Call her now.”
Kim went to the phone. Suddenly he was very scared. Suppose Aunt Carol had a very good reason not to change the time. What then?
He looked at his mother. She smiled encouragingly.
“Go on,” she said. “Pick up the receiver.”
Kim picked it up. He dialed Aunt Carol’s number. He heard the phone ringing.
Soon a voice answered. “Hello?”
“Aunt Carol?”
“Oh, it’s you, Kim!” she cried. “How are you?”
“I’m fine,” Kim said. “Aunt Carol, our—our basketball team has to play Saturday afternoon. Can’t you change the party to Saturday morning?”
“Well—I don’t know.” Aunt Carol seemed surprised. “Why, is it an important game, Kim?”
“It sure is, Aunt Carol. It’s our first game in the play-offs. And if we don’t win, we’re out.”
“Say! Never let it be said that your Aunt Carol caused the Arrows to lose their first play-off game! Hang up, and I’ll start calling all the mothers right away!”
An hour later she called back. “Kim?”
“Yes, Aunt Carol?” he said excitedly.
“I got them all but Mrs. Wood,” she said. “I can call her tomorrow. They all say they can have their children here Saturday morning. How do you feel now?”
“Much better, Aunt Carol! Thanks! Boy, you’re sure swell, Aunt Carol!”
There was a smile in Aunt Carol’s voice.
“The point is, Kim,” she said, “your Uncle Jim and I would like to see that game too!”