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heschoolnursecalledPatrick’smomtopickhimupfromschool.BackathomePatrickclimbedintobed

andsleptuntillatethenextmorning.

“That’sonegoodthingaboutgettingastomachbug,”hethought.“NowIhavetheweekendtostudyformymathtest!”

AndhehadSlidertokeephimcompany.Thecatcurledupnearhisfeet,purringcontentedlyasPatrickstudied.

TwohourslaterPatrick’sphonechirped.HehadatextfromDell:Feeluptosomecatch?

Patrickstaredatthewordsforasecond.Thenhestartedtyping.WhydidyoutellCoachaboutmymathtest?

Wasn’tme!Probablyyourmathteachertoldhim?

“Oh,”Patricksaidoutloud.Thatmadesense.Of

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course.TheteachersweresupposedtoinformCoachifanathletewasstruggling.

Patrickinstantlyfeltbadaboutaccusinghisteammate.ThiswasDell.AndDellwouldnevertellCoachaboutPatrick’smathproblems.

Hetypedhisreply:Attheparkin15.

DellwaslockinguphisbikewhenPatrickarrived.Theywarmedupforawhile,tossingtheballbackandforth.

“Coachwasworriedwhenyoudidn’tshowupforpracticeyesterday,”saidDell.“Itoldhimyouhadgonehomesickandthatwe’dworktogetherovertheweekend.”HestoppedhiswindupandlookedatPatrick.“Youdon’tmindpracticingtoday,doyou?WiththebiggameagainsttheHornetscomingup,Ifigured—”

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“OfcourseIdon’tmind!”Patrickgrinnedathim.“Let’sgetbusy.”

Patrickrelaxedastheballwhizzedintohisgloveoverandover.Itfeltgreattobeplayingbaseball,catchingwithDell.Buthestilldidn’tfeelreadytofacetherestoftheteamyet.He’dactedlikeajerktheotherdayandassumedeveryonewaslaughingathim.He’dalsobeenmakingalotofmistakesonthefieldlately.BynowhewassureeveryonelikedMickeyawholelotmorethantheylikedhim.

ArounddinnertimeDanielopenedPatrick’sbedroomdoor.“Dadsaidhe’ddropusoffatMickey’sforateampizzaparty.Bereadyinahalfhour.”

“Ateampizzaparty?”Patrickstareddownathismath

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book.“Uh...I’mnotgoing.”

“What?”Danielsteppedintotheroom.“Dude,it’sateamparty.It’slikeapeprally,abondingthingforthewholeteambeforethebiggameagainsttheHornets.”

“I’mstillsick,”Patricklied.

Danielgavehimalook.“No,you’renot.”

“Anyway,Mickeyiseverybody’sfavoritenewplayer,”Patrickblurtedout.“Nobodywillmissme.”HeliftedDaniel,soldmitt,whichwaslyingonthefloornexttohisbed.“Youcantakethismittback.Ithinkthemagic’sgone.”Danieltookthemittandslippedhishandinside.

“It’snotmagic,Patrick.It’sjustanotherdumbbaseballsuperstition.Butyoudon’tneedmagicorsuperstitions.I

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haveconfidenceinyou.”

Patrickblinkedinsurprise.“ThenwhydoyoucriticizeeverythingIdo?”

Danielshrugged.“IguessIamalittletoughonyou.”“Alittletough?”Patrickechoed.“You’rebrutal!

WhenDellandIdidn’tpickoffthatbaserunner,youmadeareallybigdealofit—infrontofthewholeteam.Ifeltlikeanidiot.”

“Look,thisismyfirstcoachingjob.IwanttodoagoodjobforCoach.Plus,I’vebeenpushingyouhardbecauseIwantedyoutogetthestarterposition—andkeepit.”

“Well,Ilostit.”

“I’msorryforbeinghardonyou,”Danielwenton.

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“Andwhoknowshowtherestoftheseasonwillgo.Myguessisthatsometimesyou’llcatch,andsometimesMickeywillcatch.Buttonightisn’taboutyouorme.It’sabouttheteam.”Hetossedthemittontothebed.“Themittisyours.Andyoushouldgotothepizzaparty.That’swhatteamplayersdo—theysupporttheirteam.”

“Okay,”Patrickmumbled.Hehunghisheadasheheadedfortheshoweraminutelater.“Daniel’sright,”hethought.Patrickhadbeenthinkingabouthimself—insteadofhisteam.

***

“Thanksfortheride,Dad,”saidDaniel.

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“Yeah,”saidPatrick.“I’mgladyoudroveusinyourcar.It’sembarrassingtoridearoundinMom’svan.”

Mr.Deboelaughed.“Thatvanisn’ttoocomfortableeither.Butit’sgoodadvertisingforyourmom.She’swantedtostartthisbusinessforalongtime,andtakingthevantogamesandpracticesisasmallwaywecansupporther.”

“It’sliketakingonefortheteam,”saidDaniel.

“Exactly,”saidMr.Deboe.

Patrickfelthorrible.He’dbeensoembarrassedaboutthevan,hehadn’tthoughtaboutMomforonesecond.Ofcourse,sheattractednewclientswiththatcrazyvan.Itwasdefinitelytimeforhimtostopfeelingsorryforhimself.

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“Woof!”hesaidasheclimbedoutofthecar.“TeamDeboeisonthego!”

“That’sthespirit!”saidhisfather.

***

WhenMickeysawDanielandPatrickapproachingthehouse,heflungopenthefrontdoor.“Hey,guys!”HelookedatPatrick.“Iwasn’tsureyouwerecoming.”

“Stomachflu,”mumbledPatrick.

“TheDeboesarehere!”Mickeycalledtotherestoftheteam.“We’vegotoneassistantcoachandasurvivorofthecafeteria’s‘FridaySpecial!’”HeraisedPatrick’shand

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likeaboxerassomekidscheered.

“Ibarelysurvived,”jokedPatrick.

“Yeah,thecafeteriafoodishorribleinmiddleschool,”saidBuck.

DanielwenttogetsomepizzawhilePatrickstoodawkwardlywithMickey.“Where’syourdog?”heasked,tryingtomakeconversation.

“Ratty’soutside,showingoff.”Mickeypulledbackawindowcurtain.

PatricksawToddthrowingaballforthedogtofetch.“LookslikeRatty’sfoundafriend.”

“Ratty’sbeenlonesomesincemybrotherleftforcollege.I’mmoreofacatperson.”

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“Really?Youlikecats?”saidPatrick.

“Yeah.LikeIsaidtheotherday,catsarecool.They’recalm,thinkingcreaturesbutreadytopounce.”

“Kindoflikecatchers,”saidPatrick.

“Exactl