Free Operation Baby-Sitter by Matt Christopher Page A

spot. Stookie’s comment made missing the goal a little easier.
    And next time,
he promised himself,
I’ll look for the pass before I go for the goal!
    The game continued. Bundy was taken out, and Edith“Eddie”Sweeny subbed in. Bundy didn’t mind. He knew Coach Bradley always
     gave every player a chance on the field.
    Eddie attacked her opponents with gusto. But she couldn’t seem to get the ball to any of her teammates. After five minutes,
     Coach Bradley had Bundy sub back in.
    As Bundy passed a disappointed Eddie, he said,“You really scared the pants off some of those Panthers, Eddie.”Eddie grinned
     and continued to the bench looking a little happier.
    It was the Panthers’ out. In seconds, the in-bounded ball was headed straight into ’Cats territory. Bundy pounded after it.
    But the Panthers were quick. Their striker dodged around fullbacks Brant Davis and Lisa Gaddy. Ted, Lisa’s twin brother, collided with Alan Minter. The Panther walloped a kick toward the far corner of the
     net. Goalie Bucky Pinter hurled himself after it. He missed it by inches.

    Now the score was Panthers 5, ’Cats 4. There was only a minute left to play.
    “Come on, let’s tie it up!”Bundy called.“It ain’t over till it’s over!”
    But when the horn blared, signaling the end of the game, the score was still the same. The ’Cats walked off the field with
     their heads down.
    Bundy did his best to rally them.“We played a good game, ’Cats,”he said over and over.“And we’ll get ‘em next time.”
    After collecting their stuff, Dewey and Bundy walked home together as usual. They talked over the game, then parted to go
     to their own houses.
    When Bundy turned into his driveway, he was surprised and happy to see his grandfather’scar. Surprised because Grandpa Frederic had been on vacation for the last week. Happy because Bundy loved spending time with
     his grandfather. Both of Bundy’s parents worked, so it was Grandpa Frederic who welcomed Bundy home after school during the
     school year and who stayed with Bundy during the summer weekdays.
    Bundy’s parents were with his grandfather in the kitchen. They all looked serious.
    Uh-oh,
Bundy thought.
I wonder what’s going on.

Chapter 3

    H e didn’t have long to find out.
    “Grandpa Frederic has something to tell you, Bundy,”Mrs. Neel said. Her voice sounded a little funny.
    Grandpa Frederic cleared his throat.“You know I was in Florida last week, right?”
    Bundy nodded.
    “Well, I found a nice house when I was there.”
    “A house?”Bundy echoed.“What for?”
    Grandpa Frederic chuckled.“What are houses usually for?” He turned serious.“Bundy, I’ve decided to move to Florida. Snowy winters aren’t much fun for me anymore.”
    Bundy’s mouth sagged. Grandpa Frederic was
moving?
    Grandpa Frederic smiled gently.“Come on, look on the bright side. You can come visit me, and we’ll go to all those cool amusement
     parks together.”He scratched his chin.“I might even get on a roller coaster.”
    “Dad!”Mrs. Neel scolded, laughing. Then she turned to Bundy and dropped the second bombshell of the day.
    “Since your grandpa is moving,”Mrs. Neel said,“your dad and I have hired a girl to come over every day. She’ll have a car,
     so she can take you wherever you need to go and —”
    “Wait a minute,”Bundy interrupted, a look of horror on his face.“Are you saying I’m going to have a — a —
baby-sitter?
”
    Mr. and Mrs. Neel exchanged a glance.
    “Now, Bundy, don’t make it sound so bad,” Mrs. Neel said.“You and Mary have a lot in common. In fact, she —”

    “But I’m ten years old!”Bundy cried.“I can take care of myself.”
    Mr. Neel looked pained.“Your mother and I aren’t comfortable with that, Bundy.”
    His grandfather laid a hand on his arm.
    “Bundy,”he said gently,“what’s so wrong with having someone look after you? That’s all I ever did.”
    Bundy shook his head.“It was different with you.