“predictions” were legendary, especially when it came to baseball. He’d even been accused of spying once
because he always seemed to know things other people didn’t.
“I sure hope you’re right this time, T.V.,” Bus said with a sigh.
“Besides,” T.V. continued, “remember what Coach Parker said: No sense in dwelling on things you can’t change.” T.V. thought
for a moment. “Think he means we
should
dwell on things we
can
change?”
“But if we knew what we should change, we’d just do it, wouldn’t we?” Bus pointed out.
“Guess it would depend on what needed changing,” T.V. mused.
When Bus walked into his kitchen a few minutes later, his mood brightened. His father was cooking up his world-famous spaghetti
and meatballs for dinner. Bus wasted no time changing into fresh clothes and joining his parents at the table.
“Is it a special occasion?” he asked, helping himself to the pasta.
“How’d you guess?” Mr. Mercer asked. He winked at Mrs. Mercer. She winked back.
Bus was perplexed. “What’s going on?” he wondered.
“Oh, nothing too important. Just a little belated birthday ‘something’ waiting for you in the garage. But first,” she added
as Bus leapt to his feet, “you have to finish your dinner.”
Bus groaned and slid back into his chair. After what seemed like hours, he held up his clean plate for inspection.
“What, don’t you want dessert first?” his father joked.
Bus rushed out to the garage without bothering to answer. When he flicked on the lights, he couldn’t believe his eyes. There,
in the corner by the lawn mower, stood a brand-new mountain bike! The card on the handlebars read “For Bus, with much love
from Mom and Dad.”
“Wow!” Bus yelled. He turned to see his parents standing in the doorway. “It’s great!”
“We wanted to give it to you on your real birthday, but the bike store didn’t have the right one for you. We had to wait until
they got more,” Mrs. Mercer explained. “Better late than never, though! Happy birthday, Bus!”
Mr.Mercer looked at Bus seriously. “There are a few ground rules that go along with this bike, Bus. Rules that you must obey or else we’ll have to take the bike
away from you. First, always wear your helmet. Second, follow the rules of safety and use hand signals. And third and most
important, always let us know when and where you’re going riding. Deal?”
“Deal!” Bus agreed.
“One last thing,” his mother added. “Stay on the town bike trails and side streets whenever possible. It may take you a little
longer to get where you’re going, but at least you’ll be riding where it’s safe. Besides, half the fun of riding somewhere
is the riding itself, right?”
Bus nodded, his eyes shining. He was already mapping out his first bike route — to the baseball diamond for tomorrow’s practice!
4
Bus felt like a king when he rode up to the dugout the next day. The Peach Street Mudders crowded around to admire his new
bike. Then Coach Parker called for practice to begin.
Bus spent the next half hour shagging grounders, catching fly balls, and practicing his throws to first, second, third, and
home. His fielding was good. Bus thought that if he could play so well during their next game,it would help his chances to make the All-Star team.
Then he took his turn at bat. He managed to hit a few sizzlers that shot past the infield’s gloves, but he didn’t get the
grand-slam homer he was trying for. He was sure his chances of making the All-Star team depended on him making up for his
two flubs at bat during the last game.
The sight of his new bike cheered him up. When practice was over, he strapped his glove onto the back carrier and adjusted
his helmet so that it fit snugly on his head. He was about to head for home when T.V. called out to him.
“Hey, Bus! Want to go over to the batting cage?”
Bus hesitated for a moment. The batting cage was a
because he always seemed to know things other people didn’t.
“I sure hope you’re right this time, T.V.,” Bus said with a sigh.
“Besides,” T.V. continued, “remember what Coach Parker said: No sense in dwelling on things you can’t change.” T.V. thought
for a moment. “Think he means we
should
dwell on things we
can
change?”
“But if we knew what we should change, we’d just do it, wouldn’t we?” Bus pointed out.
“Guess it would depend on what needed changing,” T.V. mused.
When Bus walked into his kitchen a few minutes later, his mood brightened. His father was cooking up his world-famous spaghetti
and meatballs for dinner. Bus wasted no time changing into fresh clothes and joining his parents at the table.
“Is it a special occasion?” he asked, helping himself to the pasta.
“How’d you guess?” Mr. Mercer asked. He winked at Mrs. Mercer. She winked back.
Bus was perplexed. “What’s going on?” he wondered.
“Oh, nothing too important. Just a little belated birthday ‘something’ waiting for you in the garage. But first,” she added
as Bus leapt to his feet, “you have to finish your dinner.”
Bus groaned and slid back into his chair. After what seemed like hours, he held up his clean plate for inspection.
“What, don’t you want dessert first?” his father joked.
Bus rushed out to the garage without bothering to answer. When he flicked on the lights, he couldn’t believe his eyes. There,
in the corner by the lawn mower, stood a brand-new mountain bike! The card on the handlebars read “For Bus, with much love
from Mom and Dad.”
“Wow!” Bus yelled. He turned to see his parents standing in the doorway. “It’s great!”
“We wanted to give it to you on your real birthday, but the bike store didn’t have the right one for you. We had to wait until
they got more,” Mrs. Mercer explained. “Better late than never, though! Happy birthday, Bus!”
Mr.Mercer looked at Bus seriously. “There are a few ground rules that go along with this bike, Bus. Rules that you must obey or else we’ll have to take the bike
away from you. First, always wear your helmet. Second, follow the rules of safety and use hand signals. And third and most
important, always let us know when and where you’re going riding. Deal?”
“Deal!” Bus agreed.
“One last thing,” his mother added. “Stay on the town bike trails and side streets whenever possible. It may take you a little
longer to get where you’re going, but at least you’ll be riding where it’s safe. Besides, half the fun of riding somewhere
is the riding itself, right?”
Bus nodded, his eyes shining. He was already mapping out his first bike route — to the baseball diamond for tomorrow’s practice!
4
Bus felt like a king when he rode up to the dugout the next day. The Peach Street Mudders crowded around to admire his new
bike. Then Coach Parker called for practice to begin.
Bus spent the next half hour shagging grounders, catching fly balls, and practicing his throws to first, second, third, and
home. His fielding was good. Bus thought that if he could play so well during their next game,it would help his chances to make the All-Star team.
Then he took his turn at bat. He managed to hit a few sizzlers that shot past the infield’s gloves, but he didn’t get the
grand-slam homer he was trying for. He was sure his chances of making the All-Star team depended on him making up for his
two flubs at bat during the last game.
The sight of his new bike cheered him up. When practice was over, he strapped his glove onto the back carrier and adjusted
his helmet so that it fit snugly on his head. He was about to head for home when T.V. called out to him.
“Hey, Bus! Want to go over to the batting cage?”
Bus hesitated for a moment. The batting cage was a
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