Free Button Down by Anne Ylvisaker

else tell the difference? Lester had taken the ball out of Burton’s hands and handed it to him. He remembered Burton wiping his sleeve across his face when Lester left and what Luther had said about the day at Liberty Park. Burton would know.
    “I can’t keep it,” said Ned.
    “Now, Ned,” said Granddaddy. “I thought you —”
    “It belongs to Lester — I mean, Burton — Ward. Mrs. Kelley announced it this morning. That it’s missing. Everyone thinks I stole it. And I did. But I didn’t mean to. And then —”
    “Hold up,” said Granddaddy. “You’d better begin at the beginning.” He patted the bed. “Come sit up here. Give Mr. Jackson the chair.”
    Ned climbed up and perched himself on the edge of Granddaddy’s bed. He told them the whole story, from Lester to Mr. Zip to the Rowdies, and Burton crying for Lester.
    “So you see, we have to take it back.”
    “Well, now, that is a shame,” said Granddaddy. “I thought I’d really done it this time. A football for Ned. Now, that was something.”
    They sat in silence for a long spell. Ned held the ball, then passed it to Granddaddy. He held it a bit, then passed it to Mr. Jackson, who passed it back to Ned.
    “I’ve got errands to run downtown,” Mr. Jackson said. “I’ll take it down there this afternoon. Don’t suppose . . . no. Nothing to be done about it.”
    “It was fun while it lasted,” said Granddaddy Ike. “Me and Milo had quite a time thinking about giving it to you. There was that, anyhow. You’d better get on back to school, now, before your mother gets home.”
    Ned held the ball a moment longer, then set it next to Granddaddy. “Thanks, Granddaddy,” he said. “Mr. Jackson, you’ll make sure Mr. Ward doesn’t think I stole it, won’t you?”
    “I found it in the park is all,” Mr. Jackson said with a wink. “I’ll stick to the basics.”

Ned didn’t see Granddaddy until supper that night. He had avoided practice altogether and had run home to make sure Mr. Jackson had returned the ball, but Granddaddy was resting and his mother told him not to disturb him.
    Gladdy and Mother went to wake Granddaddy for supper, and Ned sat glumly at the table. Mr. Jackson was a talker. What if he had told Mr. Ward the whole story about the football? Ned was doomed.
    Granddaddy was quieter than usual, too. Everyone else assumed it was Granddaddy’s heart, but Ned knew what the matter was. The ruse hadn’t worked. Mr. Ward or Officer Singleton would be here after supper. He would be arrested and sent to the pokey. He would never finish the sixth grade. So he’d never get to play college ball even if he could catch, because he’d never graduate high school. The rest of his Saturdays would be filled with chores.
    Finally, just before plates were cleared, Granddaddy spoke up.
    “I’d like to say something,” he said.
    “Sure, Granddaddy,” said Mother. “Don’t strain yourself. What is it?”
    “I’ve got something to say and I’m not going to take any argument. Got that, Mina?”
    “Well, I . . .”
    “Good. I’m an old man and you’re going to give me my wish. I got here two tickets to Saturday’s Hawkeye game opening Iowa Stadium, and I aim to take Ned with me.”
    Ned stared.
    “Mr. Ward gave tickets to me and Mr. Jackson today. Out of the goodness of his heart for a couple of creakers, I suppose, but tickets all the same. Mr. Jackson already has a ticket, so he says to me, he says, ‘Take your Ned.’ ‘Fine idea,’ I says. ‘Fine idea.’”
    “But . . .” Mother started.
    “No buts, Mina. I’m going to the game, and you wouldn’t want me there without a family member, would you?”
    “Well, I . . . no . . . I . . .”
    “Good. It’s settled, then. I’ll keep the boy away from wild driving and what have you. Mr. Jackon is going to pick us up first thing in the morning. He will drive us to Iowa City and drive us home. Milo Jackson, Mina. Slowest driver in Johnson County. No worries about wild