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"Nice!" I say, slove "Three up, three down, Laura"

The next batter up is Travis Lake Laura takes a deep breath and gets ready to pitch He hits a groundball to rab and hurl the ball to Allie at first Tn

Drew bats third, sla a line drive over Mel’s head He stretches it into a double Will bats cleanup but doesn’tup He hits a line drive to Laura, and she catches it for out nu off Since I’ve shed a lot of weight, I’ve gotten way fast--fast enough to bat first Jake Sanders pitches the softball overhand, which is kinda weird I let the first pitch pass On the second, I bunt and sprint down the first base line faster than Paul can pick up the ball and bomb it Mom and Dad yell my name and clap Mel is up next She smacks the ball over the shortstop’s head, and I hurl myself around second toward third The left fielder launches the ball to Will at third I slide into the bag right as Will tags

"Out!" the ump says

I pull ive Will a quick sout

Our teas In the fifth, Sam slams a homer over the left field wall He showboats around the bases, dancing and acting up

One-zero, Boys

In the sixth inning, I hit a triple, knocking two runs in, and Allie also earns two RBI In the sas Drew hos "Take Me Out to the Ball Ga to anybody and nobody’s speaking to ame

In the top of the ninth, we’re still up four-three with one out Tiht into the hole I lurch left and snatch the ball, then chase Will back toward second base I outrun hi his back

"Out!" the ump yells

We win!

My tea and ju in circles I saout The guys I used to a I can tell their pride is hurt Will says souys, and then they walk back onto the field They start shaking hands with the girls and say, "Good gaonna be?"

"Disney," she replies, roan And Ihis cap

"Wait," Allie says "We need to discuss this as a teaether, but I stay on the outskirts, not really caring They’re arguing, calling out all sorts of ridiculous theas!" "Cowboys and Aliens!"

Saers in hisplay Let’s hear what she wants"

"Ancient Ro about the the for "The decorations can be fake coluhts and stuff"

"I like that idea," Allie says, and Mel nods

"What about Disney?" Laura asks, bouncing on her toes

"I dressed as Sleeping Beauty when I was, like, five," Sydney says "It’s been done"

"If we pick Ancient Roowns and crowns of ivy," I add

"I love that!" Allie says

"I can wear old strappy sandals," Mel replies

"I have a white chiffon dress," Chelsea Clark says

And the guys can show up in togas I grin to myself

"Saapes and says in mock horror, "That’s a terrible idea" Under his breath, he says to ivesthe di and head towardinto Mr and Mrs Whitfield on the way Bo’s curled up in hishis thumb

Mr Whitfield shakes reat"

"You need to come over for dinner soive Bo a birthday present Do you have so to say to Parker?" Mrs Whitfield asks him

He takes his thumb out of his ht back where it was

"You’re very welco toaround about what happened with Brian I ain

"Weyou around," she says quietly "Will hasn’t said as ive her a quick s on hisabout a trip to McDonald’s, so I excusefeels like the war her back

going the distance

18 years old

"I love it"