1 00:00:04,360 --> 00:00:07,720 Speaker 1: Hello friends, It's mister Jim and welcome back to kid 2 00:00:07,720 --> 00:00:11,879 Speaker 1: Short Stories. Today's story comes to us from Grayson and 3 00:00:12,000 --> 00:00:15,320 Speaker 1: my h Hey, guys, they sent me an awesome idea 4 00:00:15,360 --> 00:00:17,240 Speaker 1: for a story, and you can too. Just head over 5 00:00:17,280 --> 00:00:21,239 Speaker 1: to kidshortstories dot com. Send me your idea and maybe 6 00:00:21,280 --> 00:00:24,880 Speaker 1: we'll turn it into an awesome adventure. Are you guys 7 00:00:24,960 --> 00:00:29,520 Speaker 1: ready for a game of baseball that is saved by 8 00:00:29,520 --> 00:00:32,960 Speaker 1: an underwater mermaid. I don't know how in the world 9 00:00:33,040 --> 00:00:34,520 Speaker 1: that's gonna go, but me too. 10 00:00:34,680 --> 00:00:35,159 Speaker 2: Let's go. 11 00:00:42,520 --> 00:00:47,040 Speaker 1: It was a beautiful day on a Saturday afternoon, and 12 00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:52,400 Speaker 1: Grayson's team was in the championship baseball game. Have you 13 00:00:52,520 --> 00:00:54,240 Speaker 1: ever played baseball before? 14 00:00:55,000 --> 00:00:55,200 Speaker 2: Oh? 15 00:00:55,280 --> 00:00:59,600 Speaker 1: It is super, super fun. And Grayson's team was really, 16 00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:03,320 Speaker 1: really good. They had played an entire season of games. 17 00:01:03,760 --> 00:01:09,479 Speaker 1: That whole season led up to this very game. Since 18 00:01:09,600 --> 00:01:12,800 Speaker 1: this was a championship game, they were playing on a 19 00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:17,680 Speaker 1: very special field. It was in a beautiful location, just 20 00:01:17,920 --> 00:01:20,920 Speaker 1: on the edge of the ocean, and so if you 21 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:23,679 Speaker 1: hit the ball over the fence for a home run, 22 00:01:24,080 --> 00:01:29,360 Speaker 1: the ball would sail right into the water. Every kid 23 00:01:29,560 --> 00:01:33,040 Speaker 1: dreamed of not only playing in this field, but smashing 24 00:01:33,080 --> 00:01:38,720 Speaker 1: the ball over the fence. Gray Sin, gray Sin, gray Sin. 25 00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:42,360 Speaker 1: The crowd was cheering his name as he stepped up 26 00:01:42,400 --> 00:01:45,720 Speaker 1: to the plate. It was the end of the game, 27 00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:49,960 Speaker 1: the bottom of the ninth, and their team was down 28 00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:54,440 Speaker 1: by two runs. The score was five to three. It 29 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:57,520 Speaker 1: was up to Grayson to get on base so that 30 00:01:57,640 --> 00:02:00,480 Speaker 1: another one of his teammates could hit a big hit 31 00:02:00,800 --> 00:02:03,760 Speaker 1: and drive him home. But they needed to score two 32 00:02:03,960 --> 00:02:08,760 Speaker 1: runs to tie or three runs to win. Grayson's feet 33 00:02:09,040 --> 00:02:12,720 Speaker 1: dug into the dirt to get a better grip. As 34 00:02:12,760 --> 00:02:15,399 Speaker 1: he held onto the bat with all of his might, 35 00:02:16,040 --> 00:02:19,240 Speaker 1: he twisted it in his fingers to get a better grip. 36 00:02:19,960 --> 00:02:23,359 Speaker 1: He rested the bat on his shoulder, and here comes 37 00:02:23,440 --> 00:02:29,359 Speaker 1: the first pitch. Stew right one, screamed the umpire as 38 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:32,280 Speaker 1: the ball went right down the middle into the catcher's mint. 39 00:02:34,120 --> 00:02:37,400 Speaker 1: But Grayson was not afraid. He knew how to take 40 00:02:37,440 --> 00:02:40,840 Speaker 1: a deep breath, calm down, and get ready for the 41 00:02:40,880 --> 00:02:44,880 Speaker 1: next pitch. As the pitcher held the ball in his hand, 42 00:02:45,560 --> 00:02:51,800 Speaker 1: he got ready to throw it, so strike two, yelled 43 00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:56,720 Speaker 1: the umpire. Grayson was waiting for his pitch. He knew 44 00:02:56,760 --> 00:02:59,000 Speaker 1: that he wasn't going to swing at something that was 45 00:02:59,040 --> 00:03:01,720 Speaker 1: going to trick him and That is an important part 46 00:03:01,760 --> 00:03:04,800 Speaker 1: of baseball. You have to be patient. You have to 47 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:07,440 Speaker 1: wait for a really good pitch that you can swing 48 00:03:07,560 --> 00:03:11,440 Speaker 1: hard at and crush the ball. Grayson knew that he 49 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:14,120 Speaker 1: was down to his last strike. That means if he 50 00:03:14,160 --> 00:03:19,240 Speaker 1: gets another strike, he's out. Well, that did not face him, 51 00:03:19,440 --> 00:03:22,720 Speaker 1: so the pitcher gripped the ball. Grayson was ready. He 52 00:03:22,760 --> 00:03:26,320 Speaker 1: squinted his eyes and locked in on the pitcher's fingers. 53 00:03:27,280 --> 00:03:30,040 Speaker 1: He knew the grip on the pitcher's hand and he 54 00:03:30,160 --> 00:03:33,600 Speaker 1: knew what pitch was going to come. As the pitcher 55 00:03:33,720 --> 00:03:38,160 Speaker 1: threw the ball, Grayson turned and swung the bat as 56 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:42,080 Speaker 1: hard as he could. The sound of the ball hitting 57 00:03:42,120 --> 00:03:45,400 Speaker 1: the bat was a cracking sound that could be heard 58 00:03:45,440 --> 00:03:50,520 Speaker 1: from miles away. As the ball lifted off his bat, 59 00:03:50,720 --> 00:03:53,280 Speaker 1: it took off like a rocket ship. 60 00:03:53,880 --> 00:03:54,080 Speaker 2: Whoa. 61 00:03:55,080 --> 00:03:59,960 Speaker 1: The crowd began shouting as Grayson started running for first base. 62 00:04:00,680 --> 00:04:03,760 Speaker 1: Before he even made it to first base, the ball 63 00:04:03,840 --> 00:04:08,000 Speaker 1: had splashed into the ocean. The score was now five 64 00:04:08,360 --> 00:04:12,120 Speaker 1: to four. Their team was getting so close to tying 65 00:04:12,320 --> 00:04:16,960 Speaker 1: or even maybe winning the game. Grayson rounded the bases 66 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:19,760 Speaker 1: and stepped on home plate as his team was waiting 67 00:04:19,800 --> 00:04:23,760 Speaker 1: for him there, and jumped all over him. That is 68 00:04:23,800 --> 00:04:26,880 Speaker 1: a really good feeling. When you're on a team and 69 00:04:26,920 --> 00:04:29,279 Speaker 1: you do something awesome and your team is able to 70 00:04:29,320 --> 00:04:32,160 Speaker 1: celebrate with you, or if someone else on your team 71 00:04:32,320 --> 00:04:35,240 Speaker 1: does something awesome and you can celebrate with them, that 72 00:04:35,480 --> 00:04:38,159 Speaker 1: is a really special feeling. That's what I love about 73 00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:41,680 Speaker 1: being on a team. Like, whether that's soccer or football, 74 00:04:42,279 --> 00:04:46,480 Speaker 1: basketball or baseball, being on a team is something pretty special. 75 00:04:46,960 --> 00:04:49,719 Speaker 1: After the team sat back down on their bench, the 76 00:04:49,839 --> 00:04:51,919 Speaker 1: umpire walked over to the coach to ask for a 77 00:04:51,960 --> 00:04:55,640 Speaker 1: new ball, because remember that old ball is now floating 78 00:04:55,680 --> 00:04:59,200 Speaker 1: somewhere in the ocean. Grayson's coach turned around to look 79 00:04:59,279 --> 00:05:02,000 Speaker 1: for their bucket of balls. You see, every team, they 80 00:05:02,040 --> 00:05:05,520 Speaker 1: always carry a big bucket full of baseballs that can 81 00:05:05,560 --> 00:05:08,440 Speaker 1: they can use during the game, and as he turned around, 82 00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:13,679 Speaker 1: the bucket was missing. Where did the bucket go, cried 83 00:05:13,720 --> 00:05:18,440 Speaker 1: the coach. Everybody started looking around, but nobody could find 84 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:24,200 Speaker 1: any more baseballs. They are all missing. The umpire walked 85 00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:26,560 Speaker 1: onto the field and made an announcement to everyone. 86 00:05:27,120 --> 00:05:30,960 Speaker 2: If you're unable to find another baseball for the game, 87 00:05:31,360 --> 00:05:34,680 Speaker 2: the game will be forfeited and the other team will win. 88 00:05:35,440 --> 00:05:38,320 Speaker 1: Grayson and his whole team was completely crushed. 89 00:05:39,160 --> 00:05:40,040 Speaker 2: What are we gonna do? 90 00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:43,919 Speaker 1: Where did all those baseballs go? Said one of his teammates. 91 00:05:44,520 --> 00:05:47,480 Speaker 1: I don't know, but that ball I hit into the ocean, 92 00:05:47,960 --> 00:05:50,640 Speaker 1: it's probably still floating out there. Maybe I could go 93 00:05:50,680 --> 00:05:54,080 Speaker 1: get it. Grayson took off running as his team continued 94 00:05:54,120 --> 00:05:58,279 Speaker 1: to look for any baseballs. Without a baseball, the game 95 00:05:58,400 --> 00:06:02,719 Speaker 1: would be forfeited and they would lose. Grayson hopped over 96 00:06:02,800 --> 00:06:06,080 Speaker 1: the fence to the field. On the other side was 97 00:06:06,120 --> 00:06:09,279 Speaker 1: a steep, pretty steep drop of rocks all the way 98 00:06:09,320 --> 00:06:12,560 Speaker 1: down to the ocean. He carefully hopped down one by 99 00:06:12,600 --> 00:06:16,080 Speaker 1: one by one and was met by a big, crashing, 100 00:06:16,200 --> 00:06:20,680 Speaker 1: wet wave pH As the water sprayed in his face, 101 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:26,719 Speaker 1: he looked around and couldn't see the ball anywhere. To 102 00:06:26,800 --> 00:06:30,839 Speaker 1: continue the story, we actually have to go back in time. Eh, 103 00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:34,880 Speaker 1: back in time about ten minutes ago, you know, right 104 00:06:34,920 --> 00:06:37,800 Speaker 1: when Grayson hit that big home run. As the ball 105 00:06:37,960 --> 00:06:42,800 Speaker 1: was sailing through the air and came cursplashing into the ocean, 106 00:06:43,279 --> 00:06:48,240 Speaker 1: it actually knocked onto Maya's tail. Ow Who is that 107 00:06:49,320 --> 00:06:49,520 Speaker 1: is that? 108 00:06:49,680 --> 00:06:49,919 Speaker 2: Like? A? 109 00:06:51,040 --> 00:06:55,719 Speaker 1: Oh my goodness. As Maya the Mermaid turned around, she 110 00:06:55,880 --> 00:06:59,680 Speaker 1: saw something she'd never seen before. She picked it up 111 00:06:59,680 --> 00:07:02,560 Speaker 1: in her hand and swam down deeper into the ocean. 112 00:07:03,000 --> 00:07:06,839 Speaker 1: She couldn't wait to show all of her friends. Girls, 113 00:07:07,040 --> 00:07:11,080 Speaker 1: look at this, Look at this, said Maya. I think 114 00:07:11,560 --> 00:07:15,560 Speaker 1: i my tail was just hit by an asteroid from space. 115 00:07:16,080 --> 00:07:19,880 Speaker 1: Look at this crazy thing. The mermaids began passing this 116 00:07:20,120 --> 00:07:24,320 Speaker 1: baseball around, which they thought was some kind of asteroid 117 00:07:24,320 --> 00:07:29,760 Speaker 1: from space, and they were completely in awe of this 118 00:07:29,960 --> 00:07:33,560 Speaker 1: white ball. Oh my goodness, Maya, is your tail? 119 00:07:33,680 --> 00:07:34,040 Speaker 2: Okay? 120 00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:37,200 Speaker 1: Did it catch on fire when that thing from space 121 00:07:37,280 --> 00:07:40,640 Speaker 1: hit it? They all turned around and looked at Maya's tail, 122 00:07:40,760 --> 00:07:47,080 Speaker 1: inspecting for any burn damages or maybe alien juice. No, no, 123 00:07:47,080 --> 00:07:51,520 Speaker 1: no alien juice and no burn marks. Huh Wait a second, 124 00:07:52,040 --> 00:07:55,000 Speaker 1: maybe it's not from outer space. Maybe it came from 125 00:07:55,000 --> 00:07:59,480 Speaker 1: somewhere else. Then Maya had a great idea, we should 126 00:07:59,520 --> 00:08:04,200 Speaker 1: go at that old turtle. He knows everything, and I 127 00:08:04,320 --> 00:08:07,720 Speaker 1: bet he would know what this thing is. As they 128 00:08:07,800 --> 00:08:12,480 Speaker 1: swam together as a flock of mermaids, Wait, what do 129 00:08:12,520 --> 00:08:15,160 Speaker 1: you call a group of mermaids? Is it a flock 130 00:08:15,880 --> 00:08:20,320 Speaker 1: or a gang or a club? No, I'm gonna go 131 00:08:20,320 --> 00:08:23,360 Speaker 1: with flock. It kind of feels like flock. As they're 132 00:08:23,400 --> 00:08:26,360 Speaker 1: gliding through the air. It's kind of like birds. As 133 00:08:26,440 --> 00:08:29,960 Speaker 1: Maya and her friends were swimming through the ocean looking 134 00:08:29,960 --> 00:08:33,559 Speaker 1: for this very, very old turtle, they found him swimming 135 00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:38,360 Speaker 1: through some a kelp forest. Hello, mister sea turtle, it's Maya. 136 00:08:39,200 --> 00:08:45,640 Speaker 2: Ooh hello Maya. I haven't seen you in years. Wow, 137 00:08:45,679 --> 00:08:51,840 Speaker 2: you look so big now. Oh how are you doing today? Oh? 138 00:08:51,920 --> 00:08:56,360 Speaker 1: I'm doing great, said Maya, except I got hit on 139 00:08:56,440 --> 00:08:59,120 Speaker 1: my tail with some kind of I don't know, either 140 00:08:59,160 --> 00:09:02,400 Speaker 1: an alien egg or an asteroid. I'm not sure what 141 00:09:02,480 --> 00:09:05,720 Speaker 1: it is, and I thought maybe you would know. Here, 142 00:09:06,559 --> 00:09:11,040 Speaker 1: she handed the sea turtle the baseball. Oh my, that 143 00:09:11,240 --> 00:09:17,000 Speaker 1: is not an alien eggand not an asteroid. That, my 144 00:09:17,120 --> 00:09:22,560 Speaker 1: friend is is a baseball? What is a baseball? Is 145 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:26,040 Speaker 1: it like made of gold or diamonds? Or is it rare? 146 00:09:26,200 --> 00:09:27,240 Speaker 1: And what is it? 147 00:09:27,960 --> 00:09:28,280 Speaker 2: Oh? 148 00:09:28,360 --> 00:09:32,199 Speaker 1: No, no, no, a base bowl is what humans? 149 00:09:32,960 --> 00:09:33,240 Speaker 2: Uh? 150 00:09:33,280 --> 00:09:38,319 Speaker 1: They hit with sticks made of wood. Oh my, was 151 00:09:38,440 --> 00:09:41,480 Speaker 1: this baseball mean to the humans? She asked. 152 00:09:42,040 --> 00:09:46,120 Speaker 2: Ugh. I'm not sure, but it seems to be some 153 00:09:46,320 --> 00:09:50,720 Speaker 2: sort of game that they play, throwing this ball around 154 00:09:50,800 --> 00:09:57,280 Speaker 2: and whacking it with sticks. Wow, humans are strange, said Maya. 155 00:09:57,600 --> 00:10:00,719 Speaker 2: You should probably swim up to the surface and throw it. 156 00:10:00,800 --> 00:10:04,240 Speaker 1: Back to where it came from and be done with it. 157 00:10:05,120 --> 00:10:09,320 Speaker 1: Uh okay. Maya and her friends swam away and waved 158 00:10:09,320 --> 00:10:12,120 Speaker 1: goodbye to the sea turtle. They swam back up to 159 00:10:12,160 --> 00:10:15,000 Speaker 1: the surface where Maya had been hit by that baseball. 160 00:10:15,559 --> 00:10:20,840 Speaker 1: She popped her head out of water, and there was Grayson. Remember, 161 00:10:20,960 --> 00:10:24,040 Speaker 1: Grayson had come down to the shore. He was looking 162 00:10:24,080 --> 00:10:29,000 Speaker 1: for the baseball, and now he's staring at a mermaid. 163 00:10:29,480 --> 00:10:32,920 Speaker 1: Maya had never seen a person before, and Grayson had 164 00:10:32,960 --> 00:10:36,320 Speaker 1: never seen a mermaid before. They were just in shock. 165 00:10:37,200 --> 00:10:40,120 Speaker 1: And then Maya took the ball and threw it back 166 00:10:40,280 --> 00:10:44,240 Speaker 1: towards Grayson, who caught it in his hand. Grayson shook 167 00:10:44,280 --> 00:10:47,200 Speaker 1: the water off the baseball and then looked back up 168 00:10:47,520 --> 00:10:51,360 Speaker 1: and Maya the mermaid had vanished. He wasn't exactly sure 169 00:10:51,360 --> 00:10:53,160 Speaker 1: if he was seeing things or if that was real, 170 00:10:53,679 --> 00:10:56,880 Speaker 1: but all that mattered was he had the baseball. He 171 00:10:57,000 --> 00:11:01,280 Speaker 1: ran back to the field and his team screamed in 172 00:11:01,400 --> 00:11:04,880 Speaker 1: triumph as they saw Grace and holding the ball above 173 00:11:04,960 --> 00:11:13,840 Speaker 1: his head. Playball, shouted the umpire. What an amazing adventure. 174 00:11:14,559 --> 00:11:18,120 Speaker 1: This may be the end of today's story, but I 175 00:11:18,240 --> 00:11:22,400 Speaker 1: think it's just the beginning of something amazing, something maybe 176 00:11:22,440 --> 00:11:31,720 Speaker 1: even magical that is about to happen the end. Hey, friends, 177 00:11:31,760 --> 00:11:34,079 Speaker 1: I need your help celebrating some birthdays. 178 00:11:34,200 --> 00:11:37,560 Speaker 2: Drum roll please shh. 179 00:11:38,320 --> 00:11:43,480 Speaker 1: Happy birthday Marley, who's turning seven years old. Marley creates 180 00:11:43,559 --> 00:11:47,640 Speaker 1: incredible art and illustrated stories, takes care of her dog 181 00:11:47,760 --> 00:11:53,080 Speaker 1: Remy and cat Cloudy, and love's outdoor adventures like camping, biking, 182 00:11:53,240 --> 00:11:57,440 Speaker 1: and chasing down the ice cream truck. Wow, Marley, I'm 183 00:11:57,520 --> 00:11:59,840 Speaker 1: so glad we got to celebrate you and your big 184 00:12:00,320 --> 00:12:04,720 Speaker 1: on the show. Happy seventh birthday, and next up we 185 00:12:04,880 --> 00:12:12,120 Speaker 1: have Happy Birthday Lena, who's turning six years old. Lena 186 00:12:12,240 --> 00:12:18,800 Speaker 1: loves swimming, camping with friends, and playing with her sister Francesca. Well, Lena, 187 00:12:18,920 --> 00:12:21,080 Speaker 1: I'm so glad we got to celebrate you and your 188 00:12:21,160 --> 00:12:26,000 Speaker 1: big day on the show. Happy sixth birthday. Well, friends, 189 00:12:26,000 --> 00:12:27,920 Speaker 1: I hope you all have a superd do berday and 190 00:12:28,120 --> 00:12:31,760 Speaker 1: I will see you on her next adventure. Bye.