The Hero Two Doors Down by Sharon Robinson Read Free Book Online Page A

Robinson was the first Dodger up to bat.
    â€œHit a homer, Jackie!” I yelled with all my might.
    Jackie singled to the shortstop. Next, Arky Vaughan popped out and Preston Ward struck out. I was still cheering for Jackie when he was caught on an attempted steal. I wasn’t worried. It was only the first inning.
    â€œDid you notice that Branch Rickey padded the outfield wall?” my father asked me as the Dodgers took to the field.
    â€œUm,” I murmured, looking toward the outfield wall. “I see it now.”
    â€œMr. Rickey did that to prevent another Pete Reiser injury,” Dad said.
    As the game progressed, I paid close attention to Jackie and Pee Wee Reese. Jackie had only just moved to second base at the start of this season. With Pee Wee at shortstop, they had to work together. I watched closely as the two talked to each other while turning a beautiful double play.
    Jackie was at bat three times and got two hits. Preston Ward and Carl Furillo were the only two Dodgers to score. The Phillies demolished Brooklyn 10 to 2. Still, Dodgers fans spilled out onto the streets of Brooklyn with their heads held high. “We’ll get ’em next time!” was our battle cry.
    â€œWhat did you think about the game?” Dad asked as we waited for the train to come into the station.
    I smiled up at my father. “Even though we lost,” I began, “this was the most exciting day of my life. But . . . Dad,” I continued, “I have one question.”
    â€œWhat is it, son?”
    â€œHow did you arrange for us to meet Jackie Robinson?”
    Dad chuckled. “That was between your mother and Mrs. Robinson. They made all the arrangements. You’re a lucky boy, Steve.”
    â€œI am lucky, Dad,” I replied.
    The next day was Saturday, so I wandered over to the Robinsons’ house to thank Mrs. Robinson.
    â€œGood afternoon, Steve,” she said, opening the front door. “Please come in. Jackie Junior will be so happy to see you.”
    I stepped into the living room, where little Jackie was on the carpet playing with a set of wooden blocks. “Thank you for setting up the meeting between me and Mr. Robinson.”
    â€œI hope you thanked your mother, Steve. She had more to do with that meeting than I did.”
    â€œHow come?”
    â€œI ran into your mother early in the week and she told me you were very disappointed that you hadn’t met Jack.” Mrs. Robinson paused. “I guess he’s Jackie to you, right?”
    â€œHe told me that it would be all right if I called him Jackie instead of Mr. Robinson,” I explained.
    â€œPerfectly all right, Steve. And you can call me Rachel, too. Anyway, your mom told me that you were upset because you hadn’t met Jack. We decided to do something about that. It was simple, really. Jack was happy to meet you,” Rachel said.
    â€œBut I didn’t say anything to him,” I protested.
    â€œThat was part of your charm, Steve. He knows that you’ll get more comfortable being around him. At home, Jack’s a husband and father. He’ll be easier for you to relate to.”
    â€œThat’s what my mom says, too.”
    â€œWant to stay and play with little Jackie?”
    â€œSure do,” I replied.
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    It was well into summertime, when everyone in the neighborhood basically lived out of doors. One evening I was outside playing stoopball by myself when the Robinsons came out on their stoop.
    â€œHey, Steve,” Jackie yelled over to me.
    I waved and went back to hitting the Spalding against the corners of our steps. I hardly noticed Jackie walk over to get a closer look.
    â€œWhat game is that?” he asked me.
    â€œWe call it stoopball,” I replied.
    â€œCan I see the ball?”
    I handed Jackie the rubber ball. He squeezed it several times, then handed it back to me.
    â€œWanna try?” I suggested.
    â€œYou bet,” Jackie