On Wings of the Morning by Dan Verner Read Free Book Online Page A

right, Kerchner! You’re next!”
    Otto pounded his glove and took his stance. Coach hit him a bouncing grounder. Otto charged it, smoothly gloved it on the big hop and threw across his body falling away. His throw popped home in the first baseman’s mitt. “Attaway, Kerchner! Now try this!” He whipped his bat around and a hard liner tore through the air to Otto’s left. He dived toward the ball, laying out parallel to the ground, feeling the ball pull his glove toward the outfield as it made contact. He hit the ground full length, bouncing once, holding his glove up with the ball firmly in the pocket.
    “Way to hustle, Kerchner!” coach called out, and then, “All right boys, gather around me.”
    When all the players had run in from their positions, Coach Gregory looked around at them. “I will make my choices for the team this evening. Some of you were on the team last year. That does not mean you will be on the team this year. I will post the roster outside my door before school tomorrow. Now hit the showers! Good efforts today!” The boys scattered and the coach tucked his clipboard under his arm. Otto found himself conflicted as he took a shower. He loved working at the airport, but he also enjoyed baseball. He had talked to Wilson about just working Saturdays during the season, which was only twelve games. Now, he wasn’t so sure he wanted to make the team after all. Ah, well, he sighed to himself, he hadn’t made it yet.
    ***
    Otto was glad the bus was early to school the next morning so he could see if he made the team. He went down the long hall that led to the coaches’ offices, his stomach in a knot, not knowing what he was wishing for. There taped to the wall beside the coach’s office door was the yellow sheet titled, “TEAM ROSTER: PIONEER LAKE SUPERIORS,” and there, number six on the list was his name: “Kerchner, Otto, SS.” He had made the team!
    As Otto made his way back to his first period science class, he saw Betty at her locker. They had science together, so he went over to her. “Betty! I made the team!”
    She smiled her radiant smile. “I’m so happy for you, Otto! When is the first game?”
    “It’s in a couple of weeks. We have to practice every school day until then.”
    Betty closed her locker, holding her books to her chest. “I’m glad you made it, Otto. I’ll come see you play.”
    “That would be swell, Betty,” Otto murmured, and they walked together to science class.

Chapter 7
Flight Lessons—May, 1936
    As it turned out, the baseball season was a disappointment. Otto did well, making a number of good plays and hitting .411, but the rest of the players weren’t that good. They lost all their games but one, which was a forfeit because the other team didn’t have enough players. Away games meant long bus rides, and while Otto enjoyed playing, he determined that he would rather be at the airport. Maybe he would play again in the future, but not any time soon. He fulfilled his obligation to the coach, cleaned out his locker and shook hands with Coach Gregory, who looked sad and discouraged. “Will we see you next year, Kerchner?” he asked.
    “I don’t know, sir, I’m awfully busy at the airport.” And so, late in May, with school out, Otto worked every hour he could at the airport.
    Wilson had hired a flight instructor, a World War I vet named “Sparky” Duncan. He was fond of the bottle, and often as not, Otto would find him asleep in a back room when one of his lessons showed up. Otto roused him, got him a wet towel to run over his face and guided him in the general direction of the plane.
    Wilson never said anything about Duncan’s drinking; he even drank with him on occasion. The thing was, Sparky could be unsteady on his feet, but once he climbed into the cockpit, he was as steady as a rock. Otto didn’t get it, but then he didn’t have to. He propped the engine for Sparky and watched him taxi out lesson after lesson.
    Wilson had bought a Fleet