Syl dropped the bat and danced around, shaking his injured hand and grimacing in pain.
Mr. Teacy snatched the bat from the ground. “Don’t you even know how to hold the bat during a bunt? Your fingers and thumb pinch the barrel top and bottom, they don’t wrap around it!”
He shoved the bat back into Syl’s hands. “But I guess you won’t forget that again, will you? Now get back into the batter’s box and try again.”
Syl felt like a fool. Of course Coach Corbin had taught him the proper grip for a bunt; he’d just forgotten. But he doubted Mr. Teacy would believe him. The man clearly didn’t think the coach knew anything!
“You all right, Syl?” Mr. Baruth called from the mound.
“He’s fine.” Mr. Teacy threw the ball back to the pitcher. “Get in your stance,” he growled at Syl.
Syl did, although a big part of him wanted to hop on his bike and pedal away. Then he glanced at Mr. Baruth, who gave him a thumbs-up and a smile. He smiled back and shouldered the bat.
Mr. Teacy leaned forward, hands on his knees. “Pitch!”
In came the ball. This time when Syl stepped around, his hands were in the proper bunting grip. Thock! He hit the ball with the bat this time—and cringed the moment he did. Instead of sending the ball bounding through the grass, he’d popped it into the air, just like he had in practice the day before.
Mr. Teacy darted forward and caught it. Glaring at Syl, he opened his mouth to speak.
But this time, it was Syl who cut him off. “I know!” he shouted. “I hit the ball with the top part of the barrel, not the bottom! That’s why it went up instead of down! I’m sorry, okay?”
Syl was certain Mr. Teacy would tear into him for his outburst. Instead, Mr. Teacy gave a slow smile. “So, there’s a fire in that belly of yours after all! Good. Just be sure to direct that energy at the other team. Ready to go again?”
Sylvester felt his anger fizzle until all that remained was determination. He lifted the bat over his shoulder, bent into his stance, and aimed a steely-eyed stare at Mr. Baruth. “I’m ready,” he said.
And to his amazement, he was ready. Mr. Baruth hurled pitch after pitch. Syl hit several drag bunts in a row with success. When he did mishit one, he corrected his mistakes and hit the next few right. After half an hour, he was breathing hard—and Mr. Teacy was nodding with great satisfaction.
“Not bad, Coddmyer,” he said. “Go get a drink and then come back so we can move on to the next lesson.”
“Next lesson?” Syl looked at him with surprise. “What else is there for me to learn?”
Mr. Teacy’s good humor vanished. “There is always something to be learned!” he said. “Sure, your bunting has improved, but you haven’t even done the most important part!”
Syl took a long drink from his water bottle. “And what’s that?”
Mr. Teacy rolled his eyes. “Beating the throw to first base! If you can’t do that, every bunt will be a sacrifice, won’t it?” He threw his hands in the air and went to talk to Mr. Baruth.
Sylvester knelt down to put his water bottle back into his bag. As he did, he saw the old camera he’d stashed there earlier. His heart started pounding. He glanced up at the two ballplayers. They were standing together on the mound. Neither was looking in his direction.
Now’s my chance, Syl thought. He pulled the camera from the bag. I can get both of them in the same photo. Just one shot, and I’ll have proof of their existence!
Slowly, so as not to attract attention, he lifted the camera to his eye and centered the men in the viewfinder. With one push of a button, he snapped the photo.
Click!
The sound was like a gunshot to his ears. He dropped the camera into his bag, certain the men must have heard its click. Mr. Teacy didn’t seem to notice anything. Mr. Baruth, on the other hand, shifted his gaze to stare at Syl.
Syl’s mouth turned dry. Did he see me take the picture? What will he say—or do?
Mr. Baruth muttered something to Mr. Teacy. Mr. Teacy turned. He didn’t look at Syl, however, but at something behind him.
Sylvester spun around just as a biker barreled around the corner. It was Snooky Malone!
“You!” Syl cried. “What are you doing here?”