David stared at the sack. It was flat. It looked very familiar.
“Here, David,” she said. “I’m returning your coins to you. I’ve decided that a boy who gives up his wonderful coin collection to pay for a small statue is made of good, honest stuff. I’d rather know that you’re that kind of boy than the greatest player in all Penwood.”
David stared at Mrs. Finch. And he had thought that she was going to give him another job!
“Thanks, Mrs. Finch,” he said, happily. “Thanks a lot!”
He started for the door.
“Don’t you want to check it?” asked Mrs. Finch. “See if I didn’t lose any of it while I had it?”
David pulled the folder out of the sack and opened it. His eyes bulged. Other than the empty slots for coins to be minted the next year and the next, all the slots were filled! Mrs. Finch had gotten the missing coins herself and had brought the folder up to date!
David swallowed. “Mrs. Finch, I — I think you’re great! Real great! And any time you want Bonesy and me to clean up your yard — or do anything — just let us know!”
Mrs. Finch’s hands were clasped tightly together in front of her. She smiled and blinked her eyes several times before she spoke again.
“Tell your dad and mother,” she said, “that Mr. Finch and I would like to bowl with them sometime.”
David grinned. “I sure will!” he said.
He put the folder back into the sack and went out the door.
He ran down the walk, then paused a moment. There, in the same spot the statue had been before it was broken, was a brand-new one. This was the first time he had seen it.
It was a statue of a boy sitting on a stone and holding out the same sign: the finches. The boy was smiling.
And he was wearing a baseball cap.
How many of these Matt Christopher sports classics have you read?
Baseball Pals Little Lefty
The Basket Counts Long Shot for Paul
Catch That Pass! Long Stretch at First Base
Catcher with a Glass Arm Look Who’s Playing First Base
Challenge at Second Base Miracle at the Plate
The Counterfeit Tackle No Arm in Left Field
The Diamond Champs Red-Hot Hightops
Dirt Bike Racer Run, Billy, Run
Dirt Bike Runaway Shortstop from Tokyo
Face-Off Soccer Halfback
Football Fugitive The Submarine Pitch
The Fox Steals Home Tackle Without a Team
The Great Quarterback Switch Tight End
Hard Drive to Short Too Hot to Handle
The Hockey Machine Touchdown for Tommy
Ice Magic Tough to Tackle
Johnny Long Legs Wingman on Ice
The Kid Who Only Hit Homers The Year Mom Won the Pennant
All available in paperback from Little, Brown and Company
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send a self-addressed, stamped envelope (10 × 13, 3 oz. of postage) to:
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Too Hot to Handle
Baseball runs in David Kroft’s family. His father was a good player in his day, his uncles play on professional teams, and David’s older brother, Don, is the best shortstop in the history of Penwood High School. David loves baseball as much as the rest of his family, but he isn’t quite as fast on his feet, and he feels he makes too many errors. When Don hurts his leg in an accident and has to sit out the rest of the season, the pressure is on David to play better than ever. Will he be able to live up to the Kroft name?
Matt Christopher is the writer young readers turn to when they’re looking for fast-paced, action-packed sports novels. A resident of South Carolina, he is the author of many books, including Miracle at the Plate and No Arm in Left Field. For a listing of all his titles and information on joining the Matt Christopher Fan Club, turn to the last page of this book.
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