
In the crisp September of a small Midwestern town, seventeen‑year‑old Dick Lovering discovers a bright blue runabout that changes more than just his commute. A gift from the local baseball club, the car—nicknamed “Eli”—offers Dick, who has relied on crutches his whole life, a rare taste of independence. As he learns the feel of the accelerator and the rhythm of the brakes, the streets of Clearfield become a proving ground for both his confidence and his friendships.
Alongside the exuberant Fudge Shaw, a football‑clad teen with a habit of stuttering excitement, Dick embarks on a breezy drive toward the high‑school field. Their banter hints at a larger scheme: a mysterious “secret play” that promises more than a simple game. Listeners are invited to join the duo as they navigate youthful ambition, small‑town gossip, and the first hints of a hidden plot that could reshape their summer.
Language
en
Duration
~6 hours (365K characters)
Series
The Purple Pennant Series
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Donald Cummings and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2021-05-02
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1870–1944
Best known for lively school and college stories, this prolific American writer helped shape early 20th-century boys’ fiction with tales of sports, friendship, and campus life. He also wrote under the name Oliver Horn and left behind a large body of popular juvenile novels.
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