byEdouardF.CoulonillustratedbyShirleyBeckesTHETHEHEROHEROTHETHEHEROHERObyEdouardF.CoulonillustratedbyShirleyBeckesCopyright©byHarcourt,Inc.Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthispublicationmaybereproducedortransmittedinanyformorbyanymeans,electronicormechanical,includingphotocopy,recording,oranyinformationstorageandretrievalsystem,withoutpermissioninwritingfromthepublisher.RequestsforpermissiontomakecopiesofanypartoftheworkshouldbeaddressedtoSchoolPermissionsandCopyrights,Harcourt,Inc.,6277SeaHarborDrive,Orlando,Florida32887-6777.Fax:407-345-2418.HARCOURTandtheHarcourtLogoaretrademarksofHarcourt,Inc.,registeredintheUnitedStatesofAmericaand/orotherjurisdictions.PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmericaISBN10:0-15-350451-XISBN13:978-0-15-350451-8OrderingOptionsISBN10:0-15-350333-5(Grade3Below-LevelCollection)ISBN13:978-0-15-350333-7(Grade3Below-LevelCollection)ISBN10:0-15-357462-3(packageof5)ISBN13:978-0-15-357462-7(packageof5)Ifyouhavereceivedthesematerialsasexaminationcopiesfreeofcharge,HarcourtSchoolPublishersretainstitletothematerialsandtheymaynotberesold.Resaleofexaminationcopiesisstrictlyprohibitedandisillegal.Possessionofthispublicationinprintformatdoesnotentitleuserstoconvertthispublication,oranyportionofit,intoelectronicformat.1234567891017912111009080706Joshreallylovedbaseball.TheStarswerehisfavoriteteam.TheplayerRickyCallanwashishero.JoshhadseenplentyofgamesonTV,buthehadneverbeentoabigleaguegame.Whenheaskedhisfatherwhethertheycouldgo,Josh’sbusyfatheralwayssaid,“Yes,whenwegetachance.”3Oneday,Josh’sfathercamehomewithabigsmileonhisface.“Mycompanygavemeticketstothegame,”hesaid.“Wow!”shoutedJosh.Maybehecouldcatchafoulball.Maybehecouldevengetclosetotheplayers.“Thegameisnextweek,”Dadsaid.4ItwashardforJoshtowait.Hesquirmedduringanassemblyinschool,thinkingaboutthegame.Everynightashelayinbed,hetriedtoimaginethegame.SometimeshefeltasifSaturdaywouldnevercome.5JoshgotupveryearlyonSaturday.HisfatherlaughedtoseethatJoshwasreadytogo.Hehadonhisbluehat,histeamshirt,andhehadhisg...
