Zero's Slider by Matt Christopher, Molly Delaney Page B

would put them in last place for sure!
    Coach Parker looked solemnly from one Mudder to the next. Then he said, “I know I asked you all once before if you knew of
     anyone who could step in and sub. Now I’m asking you to look around again. You all have my home phone number. Call me if you
     need to know more about it. I’ll be looking out for someone to take my place, too,” he added. “Okay! That’s it for now.”
    “We have to find someone,” Chess said to Zero as they walked out of the dugout. He reminded Zero that he was coming over to
     practice pitching the next day, then wandered off to find his parents. Zero looked around for Uncle Pete.
    “Zero! Over here!” he heard a voice call.
    Uncle Pete was sitting behind the wheel ofhis car. Zero ran over and hopped in. He buckled himself in, and Uncle Pete headed for home.
    “You okay, Zero?” Uncle Pete asked. “You looked a little out of it on the mound today.”
    “I just couldn’t seem to get the ball over the plate today,” Zero admitted. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
    “I’m sure you’ll do better next time,” Uncle Pete said, clicking on the radio to a sports show.
    Zero hoped he was right. He wondered if Uncle Pete was sorry he’d come to the game. He also wondered if he should tell him
     about their need for a substitute coach. He stole a quick look at him.
    Uncle Pete was frowning.
    “Listen to this fellow, Zero!” he snapped all of a sudden. He pointed at the radio. “This announcer says ‘um’ and ‘uh’ and
     ‘er’ every other word! That’s no way to keep alistening audience interested. Sentences should flow smoothly, right? A reporter should know exactly what he’s talking about
     — and make it sound that way!”
    Zero had to agree. He’d heard Uncle Pete’s radio show before it had been canceled. Uncle Pete didn’t just report the sports
     — he made you feel as if you learned something when you listened to his show.
    Zero had never seen Uncle Pete so angry. He wasn’t sure what to do.
    Then Uncle Pete let out a sigh. “Sorry for the outburst, pal,” he said. “I’ve been waiting for a call from this very radio
     station about a job. But I haven’t heard from them. So now I have to start looking all over again.” He glanced at Zero. “That
     may mean today was the last Mudders game I’ll be able to get to this season. Sorry, pal.”
    Zero looked down at his glove. “That’s okay,” he murmured.
    I’m just glad I didn’t ask you about being our substitute coach! he added silently.
    Mrs. Ford pulled into the driveway right behind Zero and Uncle Pete. She stepped out of the car with an armload of grocery
     bags.
    “Hey, guys! How about giving me a hand with this food?” she called. Uncle Pete and Zero both took a bag from her and brought
     them into the kitchen.
    “There are still a few bags left in the backseat. Think you can get them, Zero?” Mrs. Ford asked.
    Zero nodded, ran out to the car, and returned with more bags. He dumped them on the kitchen table, then went back to the car
     to make sure there weren’t any left. On the way there, his mind wandered back to Coach’s announcement.
    Uncle Pete’s too busy job hunting to coach, he thought. Even if he wanted to, that is.But why would he want to coach a bunch of little kids? Our games are probably really boring for him. Especially when I’m pitching
     as lousy as I did today. He hates sloppy performances, like the one that guy on the radio gave. I’ve got to get a curveball
     or something working well by the next game!
     

    Thinking about his poor performance made Zero angry. He slammed the car door shut. Hard.
    A sharp pain shot through his hand and up his arm. He had caught his finger in the car door!

4

    Mrs. Ford and Uncle Pete must have heard his yowl of pain because they were at his side in a flash. Mrs. Ford ran to get some
     ice while Uncle Pete helped Zero inside.
    Zero’s finger throbbed. It was turning purple as he