Storm Over the Ball Field

Storm Over the Ball Field

1By noon, the sky over Maple Hollow was a gray blanket pulled tight over the town. The Hawks were already warming up on the far side of the field, tossing a ball back and forth. Dev stood at the edge of the ball field with his glove tucked under his arm. He had waited all week for this game against the Hawks. The air was as heavy as a wet towel, and the flag on the pole hung as still as a sleeping cat.

2"We should go home," said his sister Rosa, who was keeping score on a clipboard. Dev shook his head. "One more inning," he said. Then thunder rolled across the sky like a giant bowling ball, and the first raindrops hit the dirt. Each drop was a tiny drum, tapping on the dugout roof.

3Soon the wind rose. It was a hungry dog, snatching hats and shaking the trees. The other players grabbed their bags and raced for their cars. Puddles were already spreading across the infield. Rosa took Dev's hand, and the two of them ran toward the library across the street. Their sneakers slapped the wet grass, and their hearts pounded like hammers.

4At last they reached the library door and tumbled inside. The librarian looked up from her desk and handed them each a dry towel. The big room was a warm cocoon, quiet and dry. Dev laughed and shook the water from his hair like a puppy. "Next time," he said, "I will listen to my sister." Rosa smiled and set her soggy clipboard on a table. Outside, the storm roared on, but the two of them were safe.