The Lost Glove

 

Midge and Booker-T sat on Midge's porch waiting for Jake and Lucy to come. Gabby flew down from the trees and landed on the porch rail.

“Hi Gabby,” greeted Midge. “What are you doing?”

“Just flying around the city and checking things out,” said Gabby.

“You always find fun things to do,” said Midge. “What is happening in the city today?”

“There is a ball game starting in the park,” said Gabby. “Do you want to go watch the game?”

“Is that the ball game with the little humans?” asked Midge.

“Yes,” said Gabby. “They are always funny to watch.”

“Booker-T was just telling me about the game,” said Midge.

“My owner's nephew is playing in the game,” said Booker-T. “I think he is six years old.”

“Are you going to see him play?” asked Gabby.

“We were thinking about it,” said Booker-T. “We are waiting for Jake and Lucy to get here.”

“Do you want to go?” asked Midge. “Maybe we can help them chase the balls if one of the little humans hit the ball.”

“Sometimes they hit the ball,” laughed Booker-T. “Sometimes they don't.”

“Does his team have a name?” asked Gabby.

“I think his team name is 'The Lost Diamond',” said Booker-T.

“They lost a diamond?” asked Midge.

“No,” said Booker-T. “That is just the name of their team.”

“Why?” asked Midge.

“Someone played a joke on them and hid the home plate,” said Booker-T.

“Then why didn't they call it the 'Lost Home Plate'?” asked Midge.

“Because home plate is also called a diamond and they liked that,” said Booker-T. “My owner made up the name.”

“It's nice name,” said Gabby. “Lets go watch the Lost Diamonds play the game.”

“Here comes Jake and Lucy,” said Midge. “We will ask them if they want to go.”

“Go where,” asked Jake.

“Booker-T's owner's nephew is playing baseball today.” said Gabby. “We should all go watch him. I think the little humans are funny playing ball.”

“Why?” asked Lucy.

“Because they are funny,” said Gabby. “They try to hit the ball and then they run the wrong way sometimes and sometimes they take the bat with them to the 1^st base.”

“I guess they get confused,” said Booker-T. “But they try.”

“They do that,” said Lucy.

“Maybe they will let us play with them,” suggested Midge.

“Why?” asked Jake. “We can't play.”

“Sure we can,” said Midge. “If one of the little humans hits the balls, we can run after it and get it for them.”

“I don't think they will let us play,” said Jake.

“Lets go,” said Midge. “We can try.”

“That's Midge,” laughed Gabby. “Always wants to play like the humans.”

“They have fun,” said Midge.

“We do too,” said Lucy.

“You are not human, Midge,” said Jake.

“I know,” sighed Midge. “Come on, lets go.”

“Lets just go,” said Booker-T. “You know she will win.”

“I know,” said Jake. “She always does.”

The four of them hurried along the sidewalk to the park where they checked both ways at the corner and then ran into the park. They could hear the kids laughing and yelling and having fun. They ran across the park to the ball field. Booker-T looked at the seats where the big humans were sitting. There he saw his owner sitting with her sister watching her nephew playing ball.

“Look,” said Booker-T. “There is my owner.”

“Will she get upset because you are here?” asked Lucy.

“Maybe,” said Booker-T. “I will stay here behind the tree while you go play ball.”

Midge walked closer to the ball field and watched as the humans swung the bat and missed it. She sat down to watch.

“Hey Murphy!” shouted a tall human “Get your glove and go out in left field.”

“I can't find my glove,” sighed Murphy.

“Where did you leave it?” asked the big human.

“I don't know,” said Murphy.

“Borrow someone's glove and go into left field,” said the tall human.

“Yes, Mr. Simpson,” said Murphy as he got someone's glove and ran into the field.

“Hey Jake,” called Midge.

“What,” said Jake.

“Help me find that little human's glove,” said Midge. “He lost it.”

“How do we know where to look?” asked Jake.

“I don't know,” said Midge. “Lets look around.”

“I can help too,” said Lucy. “How about you Booker-T?”

“I will look around the trees,” said Booker-T.

“Okay,” said Midge. “Who is your nephew?”

“Murphy,” sighed Booker-T.

“Oh,” said Midge. “Maybe your owner and his mother are looking for the glove.”

“Maybe,” said Booker-T. “Look under my owner's seat. Maybe it will be there.”

“Why?” asked Jake.

“His mom had it when she picked up my owner this morning,” said Booker-T. “Maybe she forgot to give it to Murphy.”

“Why?” asked Lucy.

“Murphy isn't too good in the field,” said Booker-T.

“I don't think she would do that,” said Midge.

“No, but Murphy's sister would,” said Booker-T. “She wants to play but is too little right now so she hides his glove so he can't play.”

“That's sad,” said Midge. “Lets go find his glove.

Booker-T looked around the trees and the other three searched under the seats and near the ball field. Suddenly Midge came running out from behind the bleachers carrying the missing glove. She stood in front of Murphy staring at him and then dropped the glove at

his feet.

“My glove!” shouted Murphy. “I have my glove coach!”

“Lets play ball!” shouted the coach and Midge walked back to where Booker-T sat under the trees.

“You saved his day,” smiled Booker-T. “Do you want to stay and watch the game, or do you want to go to the petting zoo?”

“Lets go see the animals,” suggested Lucy.

They left the ball field and ran to the petting zoo.