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           Ijumpedupinconcern,buttheyweresomehowunscathed.

           "Safe,"Esmecalledinacalmvoice.

           Emmett’steamwasupbyone-RosaliemanagedtoflitaroundthebasesaftertaggingupononeofEmmett’slongflies-whenEdwardcaughtthethirdout.Hesprintedtomyside,sparklingwithexcitement.

           "Whatdoyouthink?"heasked.

           "Onething’sforsure,I’llneverbeabletositthroughdulloldMajor

           LeagueBaseballagain."

           "Anditsoundslikeyoudidsomuchofthatbefore,"helaughed.

           "Iamalittledisappointed,"Iteased.

           "Why?"heasked,puzzled.

           "Well,itwouldbeniceifIcouldfindjustonethingyoudidn’tdobetterthaneveryoneelseontheplanet."

           Heflashedhisspecialcrookedsmile,leavingmebreathless.

           "I’mup,"hesaid,headingfortheplate.

           Heplayedintelligently,keepingtheballlow,outofthereachofRosalie’salways-readyhandintheoutfield,gainingtwobaseslikelightningbeforeEmmettcouldgettheballbackinplay.Carlisleknockedonesofaroutofthefield-withaboomthathurtmyears-thatheandEdwardbothmadeitin.Aliceslappedthemdaintyhighfives.

           Thescoreconstantlychangedasthegamecontinued,andtheyrazzedeachotherlikeanystreetballplayersastheytookturnswiththelead.OccasionallyEsmewouldcallthemtoorder.Thethunderrumbledon,butwestayeddry,asAlicehadpredicted.

           Carlislewasuptobat,Edwardcatching,whenAlicesuddenlygasped.MyeyeswereonEdward,asusual,andIsawhisheadsnapuptolookather.Theireyesmetandsomethingflowedbetweentheminaninstant.