As Coach Wildsnap paced across the office, hands locked behind his back, Thal had a hard time keeping his eyes from wandering to the hippo pacing along behind him.
“End of the road, Thal,” Wildsnap said grimly, shaking his doughy head. “I guess you already knew that, though.”
Thal couldn’t stop looking at the hippo, so he cast his eyes down at the floor. “You’re trading me?” he said, though he knew that wasn’t what the coach had meant.
“No trade,” said Wildsnap. “Welcome to civilian life.”
“And yer out!” barked the hippo. “Strike twelve! Hit the showers!”
Thal glanced up. The hippo was waving both of its stumpy arms at him and sticking its purple tongue out from its enormous, lipsticked mouth.
“But it was just one mistake,” said Thal. “After all I’ve done for this team over th
