Ms. Colman picked up with our schoolwork right where Mrs. Hoffman had left off. We took our lunch and recess break. Then, at two o’clock sharp, there was a knock on our classroom door. It was Mr. Berger. He was right on schedule.
“I believe you left a few things in my room,” he said.
Five of us went next door to get our party things. When we returned, the class shouted, “Surprise, Ms. Colman! Welcome back!”
I handed her the card I had made. (Everyone had signed it.)
“This is a wonderful surprise!” replied Ms. Colman with a big smile. “Thank you very much.”
Then there was another knock at the door. It was Mrs. Hoffman. As soon as she walked in, the kids all shouted, “Surprise, Mrs. Hoffman!”
I handed her the other card.
“I thought I was here to help with Ms. Colman’s party,” said Mrs. Hoffman. She was smiling, too.
“We decided you should have a party, too, because you have been such a good substitute teacher,” I replied.
“You are very thoughtful,” said Mrs. Hoffman. “Thank you.”
The party was lots of fun. We ate, sang songs, and played games. We were sad when it was time for Mrs. Hoffman to go. But we knew we would see her again on days when Ms. Colman could not come to school.
After the party, we cleaned up and put our room back in order. My worries were finally over. My beloved teacher, Ms. Colman, had really and truly returned.
No matter how much I like anyone else, no one can take her place.
A Special Visitor
Friday came fast. It was our last day of school before summer vacation.
After morning announcements and attendance, which was taken by Ricky, Ms. Colman looked up at the door.
“A special visitor has just arrived,” she said. “Really there are two special visitors.”
She waved them inside. Ms. Colman’s husband, Mr. Simmons, walked in carrying their baby, Jane, in his arms.
“Ooh, she is so cute!” I said.
I jumped up to see her face.
“You may sit down, Karen,” said Ms. Colman. “We will bring Jane around so everyone can see her.”
Ms. Colman and Mr. Simmons walked by my row first.
“Hi, Mr. Simmons!” I said. “Jane is even cuter than in the pictures we saw.”
(I have met Mr. Simmons lots of times before. I was even a flower girl at Ms. Colman’s and Mr. Simmons’s wedding.)
“Thank you, Karen. She is very special to us,” Mr. Simmons replied.
Jane was dressed in pink. She was wide awake and cooing. She had soft brown skin, curly black hair, and big, dark, sparkly eyes.
“Kootchy-kootchy-koo!” called Bobby.
He was being silly. But Jane liked it. She started to laugh.
“Jane is three months old now,” said Ms. Colman. “She sleeps through the night. She likes to wiggle her body and kick her feet. And she already loves books.”
“Maybe you would like to take turns reading to her,” said Mr. Simmons.
He brought out a book called Baby’s Mother Goose Rhymes.
“Who would like to begin?” asked Ms. Colman.
My hand shot up first.
“We marked off some of her favorite rhymes,” said Mr. Simmons.
Crash! Wah-wah!
Someone behind me had dropped something that made a loud noise. It must have scared Jane. She went from being a happy, smiling baby to a scared and crying one.
Ms. Colman took Jane in her arms and rocked her while Mr. Simmons stroked her head. I found a marker in the book and began to read.
“Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker’s man.
Bake me a cake as fast as you can.”
Jane stopped crying and looked at me. I continued reading.
“Pat it and prick it, and mark it with B,
Put it in the oven for baby and me.”
By the time I finished, Jane was smiling again. Ms. Colman and Mr. Simmons were smiling, too.
“Thank you, Karen,” said Ms. Colman.
“You are welcome,” I said.
I passed the book to Ricky so he could read some more rhymes.
Play Ball!
On Saturday we played the first official softball game of the season. It was the Krushers against the Bashers.
Kristy had decided not to cut any players from our big team after all. She had decided everyone who wanted to play should have a chance. That meant the field was crowded. But no one seemed to mind.
The toy sale had been a big success. By the time it was over, Kristy was able to buy almost every piece of equipment we needed.
Barbie bought the rest of the equipment for us with her own money. It was her way of apologizing to the team. She presented the equipment at the game and apologized in person.
“I hope none of you are angry at Julian,” she said. “He had nothing to do with what I did.”
We were not one bit angry at Julian. And we had already forgiven Barbie. We could tell she was sorry for what she did. She was being very nice and helpful, too. She even brought refreshments for the team.
“It is almost time for the game to begin,” said Kristy. “How about a team cheer?”
Vanessa and Haley and Charlotte jumped up and waved their pompoms in the air.
“Come on, team!” they shouted. “Give us K-R-U!”
“K-R-U!” the team shouted back.
“Give us S-H-E!” shouted the cheerleaders.
“S-H-E!” we shouted back.
“We’ll give you an R! We’ll give you an S! Then what will you get?” shouted our cheerleaders.
“KRUSHERS!” we replied.
Kristy and Bart gave each other the thumbs-up sign.
“Play ball!” they called.
The Krushers were first at bat. And I was first up for the Krushers. I waved to Mommy and Seth. They were sitting on a blanket on the grass. Then I waved to my big-house family. They were on beach chairs at the other side of the field.
I walked up to home plate. The first ball came fast. Whoosh! I swung at it and missed. Strike one.
The second ball fooled me. It seemed to be coming straight, then it curved. Whoosh! I missed again. Strike two.
“Take it easy, Karen,” called Kristy. “You can hit that ball. I know you can.”
Kids were shouting all around me. I heard Hannie’s voice. And Nancy’s. I heard David Michael and Andrew and Ricky. I was starting to get nervous. I could not let everyone down.
The ball came flying toward me. Crack! I hit the ball. I ran to first base. Then I ran to second. I saw the ball heading toward third so I stayed where I was.
I had hit a double. I jumped up and down. I shouted, “Yippee!”
Julian was up next.
“Come on, Julian! Hit me home!” I called.
“Go, Julian, go!” called Barbie.
I watched the ball fly though the air. I heard the crack of the bat as it hit the ball. Then I was running toward third and watching the ball at the same time. It went over the wall of the playground. I headed for home plate. Julian had hit a home run!
We all ran to congratulate him. He looked proud. Barbie looked proud, too. It turned out she did not have to do anything to make her little brother shine on the team. He was able to do it all by himself.
The score at the end of the game was close: Krushers 5, and Bashers 6. We all had fun. And we all walked away friends. It was a great start to our Stoneybrook summer.
About the Author
ANN M. MARTIN is the acclaimed and bestselling author of a number of novels and series, including Belle Teal, A Corner of the Universe (a Newbery Honor book), A Dog’s Life, Here Today, P.S. Longer Letter Later (written with Paula Danziger), the Family Tree series, the Doll People series (written with Laura Godwin), the Main Street series, and the generation-defining series The Baby-sitters Club. She lives in New York.
Copyright © 1996 by Ann M. Martin
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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
First edition, 1996
e-ISBN 978-1-338-05940-3
Ann M. Martin, Karen's Softball Mystery
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