A Doggone
Good Idea
The security guard stared at Mike with Louie snuggled in his arms. Then he looked down at Red at the plate. “Hmph!” he grunted.
Red took a few more practice swings. He glanced back at Mike, Kate, and Louie and smiled again. Then he adjusted his gloves and took another swing.
Mike set Louie down on the ground. He held his shoelace leash tight.
“Okay, you two can stand over there to watch Red bat,” the guard said. “But you can’t go down the aisle.”
“Thank you,” Kate said.
They moved a few steps to the left, behind the last row of seats. They had a perfect view of the field. Louie curled up at Mike’s feet.
Kate took out her phone. She started to dial.
“What are you doing?” Mike asked. “Red’s batting!”
Kate glanced at Mike. “I know!” she said. “But we’ve got to call Manny to tell him we have Louie and that he shouldn’t turn over the trophy!”
Mike blushed. “Oh,” he said. “Okay, good idea!”
Kate connected with Manny. A few moments later, she hung up. “It’s all set,” she said. “He’s calling security to find Harry. He’s not going to turn over the trophy. He was so happy that we found Louie!”
Red rested his bat on the ground and adjusted his batting gloves again. Then he picked up his bat and stared down the pitcher.
The Pirates pitcher hurled the ball at the plate.
Red let the pitch go by.
“Strike one!” the umpire called.
The crowd groaned. Then they cheered louder for Red. Mike and Kate clapped and jumped up and down.
The pitcher threw again.
It looked like Red was going to let this one go by, too. He hesitated a moment, but then he swung. WHACK!
The force of the blow swung the bat around in front of Red. He held on to it with his left hand as the bat circled behind him. He stood at home plate and watched the ball.
The ball sailed over the pitcher’s head.
It climbed high into the night sky.
It looked like it was headed straight for the windows at the top of the Gateway Arch!
Red dropped the bat and ran for first base. The runner on second headed for third.
The fans went crazy.
“Go! Go! Go!” Mike yelled.
“Run!” Kate called.
Red and the other runner circled the bases. The ball leveled off and flew toward the Arch.
Mike and Kate waved their arms and screamed, “Go!”
The first runner crossed home plate!
Red rounded second! He kept going!
The ball dropped down. It landed in the outfield seats and bounced once before a fan snagged it.
Home run!
Red crossed home plate.
The Cardinals had won!
Red had set the record!
And Louie was safe!
After the game, Red wanted to see Louie. That’s how Mike, Kate, Louie, Red, and Manny ended up back in the groundskeepers’ area. Manny was getting ready to go, but he couldn’t leave until Red stopped petting Louie.
“Where did you find him?” Red asked in between nuzzles with Louie.
“In Harry’s hot dog cart!” Mike said.
“I can’t believe it,” Red said. “A hot dog in a hot dog cart! I’m so happy you found him!”
“And we’re happy we found him in time for you to set the hitting record!” Kate said.
Red smiled. “It was nice to set the record!” he said. “But I’m happier that you rescued Louie. Maybe if he comes to my next game, I’ll set another record!” Red leaned over and gave Louie a hug.
“What happened to Harry?” Red asked.
“He’s sold his last hot dog here,” Manny said. He glanced at Mike and Kate. “Apparently, someone told him I was looking for help with the ransom. Harry went downstairs to look for me. But when he didn’t find me, he went back up to his cart. I have no idea when he noticed that Louie wasn’t there.”
“How did you catch him?” Mike asked.
“Well, I was just about to put the latest Cardinals’ World Series trophy in the drop-off place when Kate called and told me that Harry was the dog-napper,” Manny said. “Mr. Lee and his security team stopped Harry as soon as he got near the statue. I guess that even without Louie, Harry was trying to pick up the trophy. The police will be here soon to arrest him.”
“At least he took good care of Louie,” Kate said. “He was very cozy inside that hot dog cart.”
“Yes, that’s good,” Manny said. “But he shouldn’t have taken him at all.”
Louie stood up and gave Red’s face a big lick with his tongue. Then he shook all over and walked to Kate and Mike. He circled them once and then lay in front of them.
Mike and Kate dropped to their knees to pet him.
“Louie really likes you two,” Manny said. “How about the next time you’re in town, we let you ride up front with Louie when we parade around the stadium. How would you like that?”
“That would be great!” Kate said.
Everyone looked at Mike. He seemed lost in thought. Kate nudged him. “Are you still with us? How does that sound to you?”
Mike remained still for a moment, and then a big smile spread across his face. “We’d paws-itively love to do it!” he said with a nod. “That’s a doggone good idea!”
Manny, Red, and Kate laughed. And Louie rolled over on his back so Mike could scratch his belly!
