Pinch Hit Read Free Page A

her sights set on the field.
    When they walked out onto the grass, Trevor blinked and shielded his eyes from the sun. His mind swirled with the possibilities of just what kind of travel team could possibly have the clout to practice at Dodger Stadium. And he knew it must be some kind of a travel team since they already passed by all the schools and parks near where they lived.
    Out on the diamond, figures swayed in the heat. A cloud passed in front of the sun. Trevor lowered his hand and blinked.
    What he saw made his stomach clench like a boxer’s fist.

4
SAM
    â€œDo you know who you look like?” the man asked. “I’m sorry, my name is Donald Fuller. I’m VP of Central Casting. Do you?”
    â€œI know I don’t look like my father,” Sam said, feeling foolish.
    â€œYour father?”
    â€œI was waiting for him to sign that part of the application. I’m sorry. He’s at a pitch meeting.”
    Fuller nodded. “You look like Trevor Goldman. The blue eyes. Blond hair. That long straight nose.”
    â€œTrevor Goldman? Me?”
    â€œDo me a favor, will you? Pull your hair back off your face. Use your hands.”
    Sam didn’t quite understand until Mr. Fuller showed him. Sam did it, pulling his hair back like he was going to put it into a ponytail. Fuller just stared.
    â€œIt’s scary,” Fuller said in almost a whisper. “It’s unbelievable, and you could wear a hairnet or a wig. You know what a stand-in is?”
    â€œNot really.” Sam wrinkled his face at the mention of a wig. “Like an extra?”
    â€œLike an extra, but more. A lot more. You get paid ten times what an extra gets paid, and you look enough like Trevor Goldman that I want to sign you up for Dragon’s Empire . You heard of it?”
    Sam shook his head. “I’ve heard of Trevor Goldman, though.”
    â€œOf course you have. Dragon’s Empire will be his next blockbuster. The stand-in we had got sick. The computer spit you right out. Same height, weight, facial features—it’s all done electronically—and now that I look at you, whoa, you could be twins. Your skin is a little pale and your hair’s too long, but that won’t matter for a stand-in.”
    â€œWhat is a stand-in?”
    Fuller looked to make sure Sam was serious. “You just stand in for the star while they’re setting up the shot.”
    Sam nodded. “Like when you bat for someone, a pinch hit?”
    â€œKind of, but that’s baseball; this is the movies. It’s kind of boring, truthfully, but the money’s big, big, big, especially on a blockbuster like Dragon’s Empire . So, are you in?”
    Sam started to wonder if the money was big, big, big enough to buy them that condo by the design school, but before he could ask, there was some commotion outside and a loud knock at Fuller’s door. Sam’s dad appeared. His red face had turned hot, and his nose shone like a stop light.
    â€œYou don’t just take someone’s son away and meet with him behind closed doors,” Sam’s father said, stepping into the room and standing rigid. “I know how things work around here. I’m at a pitch meeting with this studio, and I come back and someone’s trying to cut a deal with my son? I’m a player in this town.”
    Fuller was on his feet. “Mr. Palomaki? It is Mr. Palomaki, isn’t it?”
    â€œI said I was the boy’s father.”
    â€œMr. Palomaki, I’m sorry, it’s just that he looks so much like Trevor Goldman and we’re shooting Dragon’s Empire and the stand-in got sick and Sam popped up on the computer. I ran right out to get him because the studio’s in a bind.”
    At the mention of the studio, Sam’s father settled down a great deal and he put a hand over his heart. “If I can help the studio , I’m happy to do it. After the meeting I just had, I think