Page 5: New Teammate

The owner—an old blind man named Mr. Mertle—came out, smiling.

“Name’s Hercules,” he said, patting the dog’s side. “Best fielder I ever had.”

The boys apologized for thinking he was a monster. Mr. Mertle just chuckled.

From then on, Hercules came to every sandlot game. He became their mascot, their cheerleader, their gentle giant.

And Smalls? He finally stopped being afraid of two things: the Beast... and growing up.

[The End]