“I have an idea,” said Hannie. “We could help raise the money to build new bleachers. We could donate the money we make at our fair.”
“What a cool idea!” I replied. “After that, we could join the Krushers again. Kristy could have her World Series after all.”
“You know, I miss playing softball,” said Hannie. “I am kind of sick of making friendship bracelets.”
Hannie and I did not tell Kristy our idea right away. We wanted to talk to the other Krushers first.
Luckily, the phones were working by the time we got home. And Hannie’s parents had returned. We each made phone calls from our houses.
At the end of the day, I went to Kristy’s room.
“I have good news,” I said.
I told her our plan to raise money to build the new bleachers.
“And all the Krushers want to join the team again,” I said. “That way we can play in the World Series.”
Kristy smiled at me.
“Thanks, little sister,” she said.
“You are welcome, big sister,” I replied.
The Fair
The next Saturday the sun was shining and we held our fair.
“Come and get it! Come and get your ice cold lemonade,” Andrew called. (Andrew is too little to have his own booth. So I let him help with mine.)
The heat wave had ended with the storm. But we were still selling plenty of lemonade.
When word got out that the fair was for a good cause, more kids in the neighborhood signed up. There were stands everywhere you looked.
“I will see you later,” said Andrew. “I want to walk around the fair with Kristy.”
I was having a very good time being a salesperson. But I wanted to walk around the fair, too.
“Come on,” I said to Hannie and Nancy. “Let’s go see what the other kids are selling.”
The Three Musketeers put up “Be Back Soon” signs. We brought the money we had earned so far to Kristy. She was one of the bankers for the fair. Then we walked around the school grounds.
These are the things I bought: A yo-yo from Matt’s toy stand; a key ring on a braided lanyard from Melody and Bill; and two paperback books from Jamie. (David Michael was selling baseball cards, but I did not want any of those.)
“Three throws for a dime!” called Buddy. “Step right up.”
Buddy and Suzi had made a game stand. I tried to throw a Ping-Pong ball into a clown’s mouth. There were no prizes, but if I won I could play another game for free.
I love games like that. I am very good at them, too. You know what? I won!
“Do you want to take my free game?” I asked Hannie. (Nancy was looking for her parents and her brother.)
“Sure. Thanks, Karen,” Hannie replied.
When we finished walking around the fair, I still had a little money left over. I dropped it into the donation box where money was being collected to help rebuild the bleachers. Then I returned to my lemonade stand.
Matt’s mother was helping with the fair. At three o’clock she made an announcement.
“Our fair is coming to a close. Please bring us any money you would like to donate,” she said.
I dropped the rest of the money I had earned into the donation box. Then I went back to my stand.
“Come and get your free ice cold lemonade!” I called. I had not started my business to make money. I just wanted to have fun. I served my lemonade until it was all gone.
At four o’clock everyone gathered in front of what was left of the bleachers.
“Thank you for working so hard to raise money to rebuild the Stoneybrook Elementary School bleachers,” said Mrs. Braddock.
She told us that we had made several hundred dollars. This was not enough to rebuild the bleachers right away, but everyone agreed it was a very good start.
It was time to pack up our stands. My selling days were over for a while. I did not mind. My friends did not mind either. We were ready to play softball again.
The World Series
“Our team is red hot! Your team is all shot!”
It was the Saturday of the World Series. The Krushers were ready to go to bat. There were no bleachers of course. But there was still a big crowd at the Stoneybrook Elementary School grounds.
My big-house family had come to watch. They had brought lawn chairs and blankets to sit on. A lot of other people had done the same thing.
“I cannot believe how many people showed up,” said Kristy. She looked very happy.
She looked even happier when Bart Taylor, the Bashers’ coach, came to talk to her. (She always looks happy when she is talking to Bart.) I heard them discussing the game rules.
The Krushers are a special kind of team, so we have special kinds of rules. For example, we play seven innings instead of nine. The littlest kids get to play with a Whiffle ball instead of the softball. And everyone has to remember to sign to Matt.
“You are up first, Karen,” said Kristy.
Yes! I turned to my family and waved. Being the first batter was an important job. If I did well, I would put the Krushers in a good mood. If they were in a good mood, they would probably win. It would all be thanks to me.
“Go, Karen!” called Hannie and Nancy when I walked up to the plate.
I felt a little nervous. I felt like there were butterflies in my stomach. I was glad when Kristy put her arm around me and whispered, “Just stay calm and do your best.”
A kid named Jerry was pitching for the Bashers. He kept doing funny things such as winding up his arm and making believe he was spitting on his hand. (I hoped he was just kidding.)
“Come on, Jerry. Play ball!” called Kristy.
The next thing I knew the ball was flying my way. I swung at it and missed. Boo.
“Strike one!” called Bart.
“That is okay,” said Kristy. “Just keep your eye on the ball and you will do fine.”
I kept my eye on the next ball. It did not look like a very good pitch, so I let it go by.
“Ball one!” called Bart.
“Good eye, Karen,” said Kristy.
The next ball came sailing toward home plate. I swung my bat. I hit the ball!
I ran to first base. I ran to second base. I reached second base just before the ball did.
“Safe!” called Bart.
My family and all the Krushers were jumping up and down and cheering for me.
Matt was up next. He hit the very first ball way out in the field. I ran to third base then headed for home. I scored the first run of the game.
“Way to go!” called Hannie and Nancy.
The Krushers were in a great mood. We hit one ball after another. We won the game by two runs. The score was six to four.
When the game was over the Krushers made a circle around Kristy, our coach.
Our team is red hot! The best coach is what we’ve got!
The heat wave was over. The Krushers had won the World Series. And we knew that soon we would have brand new bleachers.
Yea, team!
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 © 1995 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, 1995
e-ISBN 978-1-338-05785-0
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