Excerpt
from Nate Rocks The World
“The score is three to two in the bottom of
the ninth with two outs. The Philadelphia Phillies have a man on first, but
honestly folks, I think this game is over. The Phillies have just not been able
to pull it together this World Series, and now with all of these injuries, who
could the Phillies possibly put in to bat? It looks like this hometown team is
running out of options. I hate to say this, but I think the dream of winning
this year’s World Series is now over for this team. Wait a minute – is that
Nate Rocks approaching the plate? He hasn’t been off the bench all season.
Surely, the Phillies have someone more experienced they can use. Even Nate
looks confused, as he steps up to the plate. I don’t know about this. Here
comes the first pitch … swing … and a miss. Second pitch … ooh, a 95 mph
fastball … and that’s strike two. The Philadelphia crowd of 45,000 is silent,
as we wait for the third pitch … the pitch that determines this year’s world champions.
The pitcher looks around, winds up, and … CRACK – that ball is OUT OF HERE! I don’t
believe it, folks! Nate Rocks has hit a home run and the Philadelphia Phillies
have won the World Series!!!”
The Phillies
rush out of the dugout, running toward me, as I cross home plate. They pile on
top of me. Thunderous cheers of enthusiastic fans echo through the stadium. I
can barely breathe. I feel a hand reach out to me.
“You did it,
Nate! You did it!” The Phillies’ first baseman yells. He pulls me to my feet.
Two other
players help hoist me up over their shoulders. I wave to the crowd in victory.
The players parade me around the bases and the crowd begins chanting:
“Nate!”
“Nate!”
“Nate!”
“Nathan! For the fourth time – dinner is ready!”
“Huh?” I ask.
Mom is standing
in my bedroom doorway, hands on her hips, staring at me, as I sit on my floor
among a sea of colored pencils.
“I said dinner
is ready. And for goodness sake Nathan Michael Rockledge, clean up this mess!”
“Okay, Mom,” I
say. Mom turns around and heads down the steps.
I look back at
my drawing. “Not too shabby,” I note, staring at the cartoon. I pick up a
pencil and finish drawing myself holding the World Series trophy. Okay, so
maybe I made my red hair not quite so bright, took out the freckles and added a
few muscles to my scrawny body, but I still think it looks like me. I gather
all of my colored pencils and scraps of paper off my carpet and throw them into
my desk drawer.
Excerpt
from Nate Rocks The Boat
“Welcome, Hawks. I’m Matt, your counselor. I’ve been
coming to Camp Spring Ridge every summer since I was your age. This is a great
place, and it’s my job to make sure you boys have the best summer ever.” Matt
looks up at the sky as the wind rustles through the papers on his clipboard.
“Now, before it starts raining, let’s see if we can get through some of the
camp rules.”
“Rules? We don’t need any dumb rules! It’s summer!”
I look over toward the sound of the husky voice to see a
boy who looks more like he’s Abby’s age than my age. He also appears to have
arms as big as my thighs and no-neck. I’ve never seen anyone without a neck
before. I’m sure it’s there somewhere. It’s just that this kid’s head is
enormous. I am in the right bunk aren’t I?
Matt doesn’t seem disturbed by the outburst as he
continues right along. “The rules are only there to make sure you have the most
fun possible while staying safe. We wouldn’t want anyone getting hurt...or
worse.”
Worse?! Tommy and I look at each other. I turn around to scan the dirt
road. Dad must still be at Abby’s bunk. If I left right now and ran, I could
probably get there before he and Mom leave. I’m sure Mom would take me with her
to see Grandma once I explained about how dangerous it is here at camp. She’s
always saying we don’t get to visit with Grandma enough. Or I could just stay
at Tommy’s house. I’m certain Tommy would follow me if I took off running. But
what if they were already gone? Then I would have to return to my bunk. I could
already hear the other kids laughing at me as the camp director returned me to
the Hawks.
“Okay,” Matt starts, holding down the paper on his
clipboard. “Rule #1: Always listen to your counselor—he’s the coolest guy
here.” Matt starts laughing, but quickly notices no one else joins in. He
clears his throat and continues. “Rule #2: Stay with your bunk at all times
unless you have specific permission to go somewhere. Rule #3: Lights out at
10:00pm. Rule #4: When it’s our turn to have kitchen duty, everyone must
participate, and the most important rule—Rule #5: Stay out of the forest! Look,
you guys are old enough to hear this, so I’m just going to tell it to you
straight. The forest may look cool, but it’s big and dangerous. Every summer,
one or two campers decide to wander in there, and the same thing always
happens. They get lost. The camp has to call in a search party with dogs and
the whole bit. If you wander too far in, you might run across snakes or even
coyotes and wolves. So do yourselves a favor and stay out!”
I
look around the table to see everyone staring at Matt... Even No-Neck.
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