The Bull Who Hit Orange Homers

Ten-year-old Leo lived next to Farmer McGregor's field, where a giant brown bull named Barnaby grazed. All the kids said Barnaby was the grumpiest bull in three counties. But Leo noticed something strange. Every afternoon at exactly three o'clock, Barnaby would trot to the far end of his pasture and paw at the ground near an old orange tree that grew exactly on the fence line.

One Tuesday, Leo brought his baseball to the fence. "Hey Barnaby!" he called. The bull's huge head lifted. His dark eyes weren't mean at all — they sparkled with mischief. Barnaby ambled over, and to Leo's amazement, nudged a perfect orange from the tree onto the grass. Then he pointed his nose at Leo's baseball glove.

"You want to play?" Leo gasped.

Barnaby nodded.

Leo couldn't believe it. He tossed the baseball. Barnaby caught it gently between his massive horns and tossed it back with surprising grace. They played catch for twenty minutes. Then Barnaby nudged the orange toward Leo.

"For me?" Leo asked. Barnaby nodded again.

The orange was the sweetest Leo had ever tasted.

Every day that week, Leo and Barnaby played baseball catch. But Leo noticed something magical — whenever Barnaby hit a baseball with his horns, the ball would transform mid-air into a beautiful orange that never seemed to run out, no matter how many times they played. The oranges made everyone who ate them feel happy and brave.

When the town baseball championship arrived, Leo's team was losing badly. Remembering Barnaby's magic, Leo ran to the fence during the seventh inning stretch. Barnaby was waiting. The bull tossed him an orange-infused baseball.

"Hit this, Leo!" Leo imagined Barnaby saying.

Leo stepped to the plate. CRACK! The baseball soared into the clouds and showered down as hundreds of glowing orange blossoms. The other team stopped and stared. The umpire laughed. Even the grumpiest players smiled.

Leo's team didn't win the championship, but something better happened. Barnaby became the team's good luck charm. And Leo learned that sometimes the grumpiest-looking creatures just need someone to see the magic inside them.

Now, whenever anyone hits a home run in Leo's town, you can hear children shouting, "That's a Barnaby!"