Free Max Swings for the Fences by Anne Ursu Page A

school and through the doors and down the hallway following the signs to the main office. And then, right before Max went in, it wrapped him up in an icy, immobilizing embrace—and then disappeared suddenly, leaving him all alone.
    And that’s when everything changed.
    Because in the main office stood a woman, and next to her was a girl. And she was the most beautiful girl Max had ever seen. The girl had long, thick, wavy hair like a mermaid might have. And it was a rich, dark red, the kind of color that should only exist in a Crayola box or maybe a very special kind of slushie. And her eyes, her eyes were green like emeralds. Or Kryptonite.
    Max’s ears flushed.
    â€œThis is your official new student buddy,” the woman, who had apparently been talking for some time, said. “Molly Kinsman. She’s in sixth grade too.”
    â€œHi, Max,” Molly said, smiling a smile that would need no orthodontia. “I’m going to show you your classes and stuff, okay?”
    Max opened his mouth but couldn’t come up with a response. This was the sort of girl who would never pay attention to him unless she was assigned to. Her eyes were so green. Who did they remind him of?
    â€œReady?”
    â€œCatwoman!” he thought. Except he said it out loud. His mouth hung open.
    The girl blinked. “What?”
    â€œI mean, yes,” Max said. “I’m ready. Thanks. Thank you. Ready, Freddie!”
    He closed his mouth. Molly gave him a curious look, then led him around the school. She chatted as she showed him his locker, the gym, the library, the cafeteria. And Max just followed, nodding and grunting like an ape desperately trying to hide the fact that it’d just been body-switched with a sixth-grade boy. But, he reflected, at least nodding and grunting was better than babbling. If he started talking, who knows what ridiculous thing would come out of his mouth next?
    Molly dropped him off at his homeroom. “So, come find me in the cafeteria at lunch, okay?” she said brightly. “You can sit with us.”
    And then she turned and left, her invitation hanging in the air.
    Max stared. Did she really want to hang out with him? Or was this just part of her job description?
    Max sat through his first three periods wishing he were a different sort of person, the kind who might impress a girl like Molly, the kind who had anything interesting about him at all. If Molly thought he was cool, then surely the other kids would too. And then they wouldn’t string him up on the flagpole by his underwear. There was a lot at stake.
    Plus, then he’d get to hang out with her.
    At lunchtime, he surveyed the cafeteria, and his eyes instantly found Molly’s red head as if drawn there. His stomach flipped. Don’t blow it , he told himself as he walked over. This is your chance. Ready, Freddie .
    Molly was sitting at a table with a blond girl and a tall, dark-haired boy. Max gulped. The boy looked like the wedgie-giving sort.
    â€œHi!” Molly said, smiling up at him. “Max, this is Jenny, and this is Logan. Guys, this is Max. He just moved here.”
    Max sat down and attempted to look interesting.
    â€œOh, do you like the Twins?” Jenny asked, nodding to his hat.
    â€œOh, well, you know,” Max said, “my mom gave this to me….” He cast a look at Molly. Should he play it like someone who loved baseball or someone who didn’t really care that much? Was Jenny looking at his ears?
    â€œDude,” said Logan, leaning in suddenly. “What position do you play?”
    â€œUh,” Max looked around. Molly and Jenny were staring at him expectantly. “What do you mean?”
    â€œWhat do I mean?” He nodded to Max’s hat. “Baseball. Practice starts today!”
    Of course. Logan was clearly a crazed jock who naturally assumed everyone around him was always thinking about baseball just because he was. Max looked at the