Freddie Ramos Springs into Action (2 page)

“You saved my ball!” Gio said, as he rushed up to me. “You're fast!”

I sure was. With my purple zapatos, I could save a ball from going into the street. I could save a puppy from a speeding car. I could even outrun a train. But I couldn't save Gio from Mrs. Tran, his mother, and his sister, Maria.

“What were you thinking?” Gio's mom came down the hill with Puppy at her heels. “Why were you throwing a ball against the building?”

“Who's going to fix my window?” Mrs. Tran asked.

“You're in trouble now,” Maria said.

“I'm sorry!” Gio cried. “Lo siento.”

“Ruff! Ruff!” Puppy said.

Everybody was barking, crying, or asking questions. I used my Zapato Power to get out of there, fast.

In half a blink, I was at Mr. Vaslov's toolshed. He takes care of Starwood Park. If something's broken, Mr. Vaslov is the guy to fix it.

I knocked on the door.

“Freddie!” Mr. Vaslov said, when he saw me. “What are you doing in your pajamas?”

I looked down at my blue and red striped pajama pants. “Superheroes don't always have time to get dressed,” I said.

Mr. Vaslov smiled and waved me inside his toolshed with a screwdriver. I looked around at all the tools and cut-up computers. Mr. Vaslov does more than take care of Starwood Park. He invents things like special shoes that go ninety miles an hour. I have Zapato Power because of Mr. Vaslov.

“So what's the problem?” Mr. Vaslov asked.

I told him about Gio and Mrs. Tran's window. He picked up a broom and started out the door.

“Time for some clean-up,” he said.

“Do you need help?” I asked.

Mr. Vaslov pushed back his bushy gray hair. “Sounds like everybody is pretty upset. I'd stay out of the way for a while if I were you.”

Just then, we heard the metro train rumble on its overhead track in the back of the building. My feet started to tingle in my sneakers. I waved at Mr. Vaslov. Then I took off…

2. A Softer Ball

The metro train goes right by Starwood Park. I've been racing it since I moved here, just for fun. But when Mr. Vaslov gave me my purple zapatos, it got a lot more interesting.

I ran beside the overhead track. Smoke swirled around me as my legs spun faster and faster. The wind whooshed against my face so hard, I had to blink my eyes. Rápido! I zipped past the train, flying on the ground. ZAPATO POWER! Nothing could touch me! I was faster than a rocket!

But still too young to leave the house without telling my mother.

“FREDDIE! WHERE ARE YOU?” Mom shouted all over Starwood Park.

I raced back up the hill to where Mom stood with her hands on her hips. “Where did you go? I was worried.”

“To tell Mr. Vaslov about Mrs. Tran's window,” I said.

“I'm glad you're all right.”

Mom hugged me. She's been mushy ever since last year, when we lost my soldier dad and my grandmother, Abuela. Mom says we only have each other now, so she deserves extra hugs whenever she gets worried about me.

“And I'm glad you know better than to throw balls through windows,” Mom added.

“Gio needs a softer ball,” I said.

“Yes, he does,” a deep voice behind us agreed. It was Mr. Vaslov. He held a blue and white beach ball.

Mom laughed. “Gio won't break any windows with that!”

“I know.” Mr. Vaslov smiled. “That's why I'm giving it to him.”

“You're such a nice man!” Mom said. “We're lucky to have you at Starwood Park.”

Mom was right about Mr. Vaslov. He gave me my purple zapatos, and he gave Gio a new ball without yelling at him for breaking the window.

“Accidents happen,” Mr. Vaslov said. “It's part of life.”

“Thanks!” Gio shouted, as he took the beach ball. “Can I play with it now?”

“Throw it as high as you want,” Mr. Vaslov said. “It shouldn't hurt anything!”

We all stood watching Gio toss the ball for a few minutes. Then Mom put her hand on my shoulder.

“Freddie? Do you know you're still wearing pajamas?”

3. An On-Off Switch

The rest of my Sunday wasn't too exciting. We didn't have anything to do except clean the house. I really miss my abuela on Sundays. When she was alive, we went over to her house for dinner. Now, Mom and I usually clean Claude the Second's cage. Cleaning guinea pig poop is just not as much fun as eating tamales. And Mom gets cranky when Claude the Second waddles off his newspaper and leaves tiny presents on the carpet.