CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
APRIL
I looked out the dorm room window. The sky, filled with clouds, resembled an enormous gunmetal gray battleship. The butterflies behaved like rabid bats in my stomach. I pulled open my sock drawer. I dug through rolled pairs until I found what I was looking for. The packs of baseball cards from grandpa.
I tore them open, stuffing the sticks of chewing gum into my mouth. Chewing helped me concentrate, keeping my mind off feeling so anxious.
I quickly scanned through the decks: a couple Yankee players—the pitcher, and catcher, an outfielder from the Red Sox, the second baseman for the Diamondbacks. Not bad. They would be a cool addition to my collection at home.
I opened the book from my grandfather and tucked the cards under the front flap.
Then I ran outside.
