Did You Hear About The Mean Lady Who Lived Across From The Ball Park?

Archie and his neighbor buddies loved to go the little league park. To get to the park, Wayne, Barry, and Arch would walk across Huisache Street, between the houses on that side. They proceeded past the houses that faced Oak Drive and backed up to the houses opposite Archie’s house. They were careful when they went past 109 Oak Drive, because they were afraid of the lady who lived there, Mrs. Stuman.

As far as anyone knows, Mrs. Stuman never killed or kidnapped anyone, but the boys feared her anyway. She was very gruff. So when a foul ball was hit into the Stuman’s front yard, the boys would go through a little ritual to determine who had to go into the yard to retrieve the ball.

One of the boys would toss the bat. It would be caught by another of the guys. Then each boy would place his hand above one another until someone had come to grip the knob of the bat. The unlucky player then had to make the trip, with all his friends holding their breath until the ball was brought back and play resumed