1 00:00:04,240 --> 00:00:07,600 Speaker 1: Hello friends, It's mister Jim and welcome back to kid 2 00:00:07,640 --> 00:00:11,760 Speaker 1: Short Stories. Today's story comes to us from Grayson and 3 00:00:11,920 --> 00:00:15,200 Speaker 1: my h Hey, guys, they sent me an awesome idea 4 00:00:15,240 --> 00:00:17,160 Speaker 1: for a story, and you can too. Just head over 5 00:00:17,160 --> 00:00:20,799 Speaker 1: to kidshort stories dot com. Send me your idea and 6 00:00:20,880 --> 00:00:24,400 Speaker 1: maybe we'll turn it into an awesome adventure. Are you 7 00:00:24,440 --> 00:00:28,760 Speaker 1: guys ready for a game of baseball that is saved 8 00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:32,680 Speaker 1: by an underwater mermaid. I don't know how in the 9 00:00:32,680 --> 00:00:34,400 Speaker 1: world that's gonna go, but me too. 10 00:00:34,560 --> 00:00:44,559 Speaker 2: Let's go. It was a beautiful. 11 00:00:44,040 --> 00:00:49,240 Speaker 1: Day on a Saturday afternoon, and Grayson's team was in 12 00:00:49,360 --> 00:00:54,120 Speaker 1: the championship baseball game. Have you ever played baseball before? 13 00:00:54,880 --> 00:00:55,080 Speaker 2: Oh? 14 00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:59,480 Speaker 1: It is super duper fun. And Grayson's team was really, 15 00:00:59,520 --> 00:01:03,200 Speaker 1: really good. They had played an entire season of games. 16 00:01:03,640 --> 00:01:09,360 Speaker 1: That whole season led up to this very game. Since 17 00:01:09,480 --> 00:01:12,679 Speaker 1: this was a championship game, they were playing on a 18 00:01:13,000 --> 00:01:17,560 Speaker 1: very special field. It was in a beautiful location, just 19 00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:20,800 Speaker 1: on the edge of the ocean, and so if you 20 00:01:20,880 --> 00:01:23,559 Speaker 1: hit the ball over the fence for a home run, 21 00:01:23,959 --> 00:01:29,320 Speaker 1: the ball would sail right into the water. Every kid 22 00:01:29,440 --> 00:01:32,920 Speaker 1: dreamed of not only playing in this field, but smashing 23 00:01:32,959 --> 00:01:38,600 Speaker 1: the ball over the fence, gray Sin, gray Sin, gray Sin. 24 00:01:39,160 --> 00:01:42,240 Speaker 1: The crowd was cheering his name as he stepped up 25 00:01:42,280 --> 00:01:45,600 Speaker 1: to the plate. It was the end of the game, 26 00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:49,840 Speaker 1: the bottom of the ninth, and their team was down 27 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:54,280 Speaker 1: by two runs. The score was five to three. It 28 00:01:54,360 --> 00:01:57,400 Speaker 1: was up to Grayson to get on base so that 29 00:01:57,520 --> 00:02:00,360 Speaker 1: another one of his teammates could hit a bit hit 30 00:02:00,680 --> 00:02:03,720 Speaker 1: and drive him home. But they needed to score two 31 00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:08,640 Speaker 1: runs to tie or three runs to win. Grayson's feet 32 00:02:08,919 --> 00:02:12,600 Speaker 1: dug into the dirt to get a better grip. As 33 00:02:12,639 --> 00:02:15,280 Speaker 1: he held onto the bat with all of his might, 34 00:02:15,919 --> 00:02:19,120 Speaker 1: he twisted it in his fingers to get a better grip. 35 00:02:19,840 --> 00:02:23,280 Speaker 1: He rested the bat on his shoulder, and here comes 36 00:02:23,320 --> 00:02:29,239 Speaker 1: the first pitch. Stew right one, screamed the umpire as 37 00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:32,160 Speaker 1: the ball went right down the middle into the catcher's mitt. 38 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:37,280 Speaker 1: But Grayson was not afraid. He knew how to take 39 00:02:37,320 --> 00:02:40,720 Speaker 1: a deep breath, calm down, and get ready for the 40 00:02:40,760 --> 00:02:44,760 Speaker 1: next pitch. As the pitcher held the ball in his hand, 41 00:02:45,480 --> 00:02:51,680 Speaker 1: he got ready to throw it, so strike two, yelled 42 00:02:51,720 --> 00:02:56,600 Speaker 1: the umpire. Grayson was waiting for his pitch. He knew 43 00:02:56,639 --> 00:02:59,000 Speaker 1: that he wasn't gonna swing at something that was going 44 00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:01,000 Speaker 1: to trick him, and that is an. 45 00:03:00,919 --> 00:03:02,320 Speaker 2: Important part of baseball. 46 00:03:02,760 --> 00:03:05,120 Speaker 1: You have to be patient. You have to wait for 47 00:03:05,160 --> 00:03:08,320 Speaker 1: a really good pitch that you can swing hard at 48 00:03:08,360 --> 00:03:11,799 Speaker 1: and crush the ball. Grayson knew that he was down 49 00:03:11,840 --> 00:03:14,880 Speaker 1: to his last strike. That means if he gets another strike, 50 00:03:15,320 --> 00:03:19,520 Speaker 1: he's out. Well, that did not face him, so the 51 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:23,240 Speaker 1: pitcher gripped the ball. Grayson was ready. He squinted his 52 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:27,720 Speaker 1: eyes and locked in on the pitcher's fingers. He knew 53 00:03:27,760 --> 00:03:30,440 Speaker 1: the grip on the pitcher's hand and he knew what 54 00:03:30,639 --> 00:03:34,400 Speaker 1: pitch was going to come. As the pitcher threw the ball, 55 00:03:34,760 --> 00:03:39,400 Speaker 1: Grayson turned and swung the bat as hard as he could. 56 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:43,360 Speaker 1: The sound of the ball hitting the bat was a 57 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:48,080 Speaker 1: cracking sound that could be heard from miles away. As 58 00:03:48,160 --> 00:03:51,840 Speaker 1: the ball lifted off his bat, it took off like 59 00:03:52,040 --> 00:03:52,840 Speaker 1: a rocket ship. 60 00:03:53,760 --> 00:03:54,040 Speaker 2: Whoa. 61 00:03:54,960 --> 00:03:59,920 Speaker 1: The crowd began shouting as Grayson started running for first base. 62 00:04:00,560 --> 00:04:03,680 Speaker 1: Before he even made it to first base, the ball 63 00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:07,880 Speaker 1: had splashed into the ocean. The score was now five 64 00:04:08,240 --> 00:04:12,000 Speaker 1: to four. Their team was getting so close to tying 65 00:04:12,200 --> 00:04:16,840 Speaker 1: or even maybe winning the game. Grayson rounded the bases 66 00:04:16,880 --> 00:04:19,640 Speaker 1: and stepped on home plate as his team was waiting 67 00:04:19,680 --> 00:04:23,640 Speaker 1: for him there and jumped all over him. That is 68 00:04:23,680 --> 00:04:26,760 Speaker 1: a really good feeling. When you're on a team and 69 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:29,159 Speaker 1: you do something awesome and your team is able to 70 00:04:29,200 --> 00:04:32,040 Speaker 1: celebrate with you, or if someone else on your team 71 00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:35,120 Speaker 1: does something awesome and you can celebrate with them, that 72 00:04:35,360 --> 00:04:38,039 Speaker 1: is a really special feeling. That's what I love about 73 00:04:38,040 --> 00:04:41,560 Speaker 1: being on a team, like, whether that's soccer or football, 74 00:04:42,160 --> 00:04:46,400 Speaker 1: basketball or baseball, being on a team is something pretty special. 75 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:49,599 Speaker 1: After the team sat back down on their bench, the 76 00:04:49,720 --> 00:04:51,800 Speaker 1: umpire walked over to the coach to ask for a 77 00:04:51,839 --> 00:04:55,480 Speaker 1: new ball, because remember that old ball is now floating 78 00:04:55,560 --> 00:04:59,120 Speaker 1: somewhere in the ocean. Grayson's coach turned around to look 79 00:04:59,160 --> 00:05:02,280 Speaker 1: for their bucket balls. You see, every team, they always 80 00:05:02,320 --> 00:05:05,520 Speaker 1: carry a big bucket full of baseballs that can they 81 00:05:05,560 --> 00:05:08,320 Speaker 1: can use during the game, and as he turned around, 82 00:05:08,760 --> 00:05:13,559 Speaker 1: the bucket was missing. Where did the bucket go? Cried 83 00:05:13,600 --> 00:05:18,200 Speaker 1: the coach. Everybody started looking around, but nobody could find 84 00:05:18,839 --> 00:05:24,080 Speaker 1: any more baseballs. They are all missing. The umpire walked 85 00:05:24,120 --> 00:05:27,160 Speaker 1: onto the field and made an announcement to everyone. If 86 00:05:27,160 --> 00:05:31,440 Speaker 1: you're unable to find another baseball for the game, the 87 00:05:31,480 --> 00:05:34,560 Speaker 1: game will be forfeited and the other team will win. 88 00:05:35,320 --> 00:05:39,320 Speaker 1: Grayson and his whole team was completely crushed. What are 89 00:05:39,320 --> 00:05:42,880 Speaker 1: we gonna do? Where did all those baseballs go? Said 90 00:05:42,960 --> 00:05:46,360 Speaker 1: one of his teammates. I don't know, but that ball 91 00:05:46,360 --> 00:05:49,320 Speaker 1: I hit into the ocean, it's probably still floating out there. 92 00:05:49,839 --> 00:05:50,920 Speaker 2: Maybe I could go get it. 93 00:05:51,320 --> 00:05:54,360 Speaker 1: Grayson took off running as his team continued to look 94 00:05:54,480 --> 00:05:58,599 Speaker 1: for any baseballs. Without a baseball, the game would be 95 00:05:58,640 --> 00:06:03,200 Speaker 1: forfeited and they would lose. Grayson hopped over the fence 96 00:06:03,440 --> 00:06:06,640 Speaker 1: to the field. On the other side was a steep, 97 00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:09,560 Speaker 1: pretty steep drop of rocks all the way down to 98 00:06:09,600 --> 00:06:12,960 Speaker 1: the ocean. He carefully hopped down one by one by 99 00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:16,719 Speaker 1: one and was met by a big, crashing, wet wave 100 00:06:17,279 --> 00:06:21,720 Speaker 1: pH As the water sprayed in his face, he looked 101 00:06:21,880 --> 00:06:27,599 Speaker 1: around and couldn't see the ball anywhere. To continue the story, 102 00:06:27,640 --> 00:06:31,120 Speaker 1: we actually have to go back in time. Eh, back 103 00:06:31,160 --> 00:06:35,000 Speaker 1: in time about ten minutes ago, you know, right when 104 00:06:35,040 --> 00:06:37,919 Speaker 1: Grayson hit that big home run. As the ball was 105 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:42,680 Speaker 1: sailing through the air and came cursplashing into the ocean, 106 00:06:43,160 --> 00:06:48,120 Speaker 1: it actually knocked onto Maya's tail ow Who is that 107 00:06:49,200 --> 00:06:49,400 Speaker 1: is that? 108 00:06:49,560 --> 00:06:52,200 Speaker 2: Like? A? Oh my goodness. 109 00:06:52,760 --> 00:06:56,839 Speaker 1: As Maya the Mermaid turned around, she saw something she'd 110 00:06:56,880 --> 00:07:00,280 Speaker 1: never seen before. She picked it up in her hand 111 00:07:00,040 --> 00:07:03,640 Speaker 1: and swam down deeper into the ocean. She couldn't wait 112 00:07:03,680 --> 00:07:07,440 Speaker 1: to show all of her friends. Girls, look at this, 113 00:07:07,880 --> 00:07:12,400 Speaker 1: Look at this, said Maya. I think i my tail 114 00:07:12,840 --> 00:07:16,320 Speaker 1: was just hit by an asteroid from space. Look at 115 00:07:16,320 --> 00:07:21,280 Speaker 1: this crazy thing. The mermaids began passing this baseball around, 116 00:07:21,680 --> 00:07:25,000 Speaker 1: which they thought was some kind of asteroid from space, 117 00:07:26,920 --> 00:07:30,720 Speaker 1: and they were completely in awe of this white ball. 118 00:07:31,360 --> 00:07:34,880 Speaker 1: Oh my goodness, Maya, is your tail Okay? Didn't catch 119 00:07:34,920 --> 00:07:38,240 Speaker 1: on fire when that thing from space hit it. They 120 00:07:38,280 --> 00:07:41,400 Speaker 1: all turned around and looked at Maya's tail, inspecting for 121 00:07:41,480 --> 00:07:47,040 Speaker 1: any burn damages or maybe alien juice. No, no, no 122 00:07:47,200 --> 00:07:51,400 Speaker 1: alien juice and no burn marks. Huh Wait a second, 123 00:07:51,920 --> 00:07:54,880 Speaker 1: maybe it's not from outer space. Maybe it came from 124 00:07:54,920 --> 00:07:59,400 Speaker 1: somewhere else. Then Maya had a great idea, we should 125 00:07:59,400 --> 00:08:04,080 Speaker 1: go ask that old turtle. He knows everything, and I 126 00:08:04,200 --> 00:08:07,600 Speaker 1: bet he would know what this thing is. As they 127 00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:12,360 Speaker 1: swam together as a flock of mermaids, Wait, what do 128 00:08:12,400 --> 00:08:15,080 Speaker 1: you call a group of mermaids? Is it a flock 129 00:08:15,760 --> 00:08:20,200 Speaker 1: or a gang or a club? No, I'm gonna go 130 00:08:20,240 --> 00:08:23,280 Speaker 1: with flock. It kind of feels like flock. As they're 131 00:08:23,280 --> 00:08:26,240 Speaker 1: gliding through the air. It's kind of like birds. As 132 00:08:26,320 --> 00:08:29,840 Speaker 1: Maya and her friends were swimming through the ocean looking 133 00:08:29,840 --> 00:08:33,439 Speaker 1: for this very, very old turtle, they found him swimming 134 00:08:33,480 --> 00:08:38,280 Speaker 1: through some a kelp forest. Hello, mister sea turtle, it's Maya. 135 00:08:39,080 --> 00:08:45,520 Speaker 2: Ooh, hello Maya. I haven't seen you in years. Wow, 136 00:08:45,559 --> 00:08:51,720 Speaker 2: you look so big now. Oh how are you doing today? Oh? 137 00:08:51,800 --> 00:08:56,240 Speaker 1: I'm doing great, said Maya, except I got hit on 138 00:08:56,320 --> 00:08:59,000 Speaker 1: my tail with some kind of I don't know, either 139 00:08:59,040 --> 00:09:02,280 Speaker 1: an alien egg or an asteroid. I'm not sure what 140 00:09:02,360 --> 00:09:05,600 Speaker 1: it is, and I thought maybe you would know. Here 141 00:09:06,440 --> 00:09:10,920 Speaker 1: she handed the sea turtle the baseball. Oh my, that 142 00:09:11,120 --> 00:09:16,880 Speaker 1: is not an alien egand not an asteroid. That, my 143 00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:22,480 Speaker 1: friend is is a baseball? What is a baseball? Is 144 00:09:22,520 --> 00:09:25,959 Speaker 1: it like made of gold or diamonds? Or is it rare? 145 00:09:26,080 --> 00:09:27,160 Speaker 1: And what is it? 146 00:09:27,840 --> 00:09:33,120 Speaker 2: Oh? No, no, no, a base bowl is what humans? Uh? 147 00:09:33,160 --> 00:09:35,839 Speaker 2: They hit with sticks made of wood. 148 00:09:36,720 --> 00:09:40,280 Speaker 1: Oh my, was this baseball mean to the humans? 149 00:09:40,800 --> 00:09:45,560 Speaker 2: She asked. Ugh. I'm not sure, but it seems to 150 00:09:45,600 --> 00:09:49,440 Speaker 2: be some sort of game that they play, throwing this 151 00:09:49,679 --> 00:09:55,720 Speaker 2: ball around and whacking it with sticks. Wow, humans are strange, 152 00:09:56,160 --> 00:09:59,640 Speaker 2: said Maya. You should probably swim up to the surface 153 00:09:59,679 --> 00:10:02,120 Speaker 2: and just throw it back to where it came from 154 00:10:02,200 --> 00:10:05,960 Speaker 2: and be done with it. Uh okay. 155 00:10:06,840 --> 00:10:09,720 Speaker 1: Maya and her friends swam away and waved goodbye to 156 00:10:09,760 --> 00:10:12,520 Speaker 1: the sea turtle. They swam back up to the surface 157 00:10:12,559 --> 00:10:15,960 Speaker 1: where Maya had been hit by that baseball. She popped 158 00:10:15,960 --> 00:10:20,720 Speaker 1: her head out of water, and there was Grayson. Remember, 159 00:10:20,840 --> 00:10:23,920 Speaker 1: Grayson had come down to the shore. He was looking 160 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:28,880 Speaker 1: for the baseball, and now he's staring at a mermaid. 161 00:10:29,360 --> 00:10:32,839 Speaker 1: Maya had never seen a person before, and Grayson had 162 00:10:32,840 --> 00:10:36,200 Speaker 1: never seen a mermaid before. They were just in shock. 163 00:10:37,080 --> 00:10:40,000 Speaker 1: And then Maya took the ball and threw it back 164 00:10:40,200 --> 00:10:44,120 Speaker 1: towards Grayson, who caught it in his hand. Grayson shook 165 00:10:44,160 --> 00:10:47,080 Speaker 1: the water off the baseball and then looked back up 166 00:10:47,440 --> 00:10:51,240 Speaker 1: and Maya the mermaid had vanished. He wasn't exactly sure 167 00:10:51,280 --> 00:10:53,040 Speaker 1: if he was seeing things or if that was real, 168 00:10:53,559 --> 00:10:56,600 Speaker 1: but all that mattered was he had the baseball. He 169 00:10:56,880 --> 00:11:01,160 Speaker 1: ran back to the field and his team screamed in 170 00:11:01,280 --> 00:11:04,760 Speaker 1: triumph as they saw Grace and holding the ball above 171 00:11:04,880 --> 00:11:13,720 Speaker 1: his head. Playball, shouted the umpire. What an amazing adventure. 172 00:11:14,440 --> 00:11:18,040 Speaker 1: This may be the end of today's story, but I 173 00:11:18,120 --> 00:11:22,280 Speaker 1: think it's just the beginning of something amazing, something maybe 174 00:11:22,320 --> 00:11:32,480 Speaker 1: even magical that is about to happen the end. Great job, 175 00:11:32,559 --> 00:11:34,880 Speaker 1: you listened all the way to the end, and you 176 00:11:34,960 --> 00:11:38,880 Speaker 1: know what time it is. It's time for kid shout out. 177 00:11:39,280 --> 00:11:41,840 Speaker 1: I'm gonna give a very special hello to the Little 178 00:11:41,880 --> 00:11:45,120 Speaker 1: Seeds pre K in Michigan. He guys, and I want 179 00:11:45,160 --> 00:11:47,640 Speaker 1: to say hello to Annsley from South Carolina, Beckett and 180 00:11:47,679 --> 00:11:51,960 Speaker 1: Foster from Canada, Mokeshi from New Jersey, Spire from British Columbia, 181 00:11:52,040 --> 00:11:57,120 Speaker 1: Breadon from Ontario, and Boppy and Levi from Massachusetts. I'm 182 00:11:57,200 --> 00:11:59,800 Speaker 1: so glad that you're all in the Kitschortsory's family and 183 00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:03,360 Speaker 1: on our spy team. We could not stop Doctor Stinkybreath 184 00:12:03,400 --> 00:12:06,960 Speaker 1: and his crew without you, my friends. It would mean 185 00:12:07,120 --> 00:12:09,360 Speaker 1: so much to me if you left a review on 186 00:12:09,440 --> 00:12:13,600 Speaker 1: Apple Podcast sharing how much you love this podcast. Well, 187 00:12:13,640 --> 00:12:16,720 Speaker 1: my friends, I hope you have a superdoper day. I'll 188 00:12:16,760 --> 00:12:17,679 Speaker 1: see you next time. 189 00:12:18,000 --> 00:12:18,440 Speaker 2: Bye.