The Zombie Who Loved Baseball

Lily pressed her eye to the telescope, just like a real spy. Every Saturday, she watched the old swimming pool behind the tall fence. Most people said it was haunted, but Lily knew better. She was determined to solve the mystery.

That day, something green shuffled through the weeds. Lily gasped. It looked like a zombie from her storybooks—ragged clothes, greenish skin, and hair that stuck up every which way. But this zombie wasn't moaning or looking for brains. It was carrying something round and covered in tape.

Lily crept closer, her spy notebook in hand. The zombie stopped at the pool's edge and stared sadly at the murky water. Then it did something strange—it tossed the round object into the air and hit it with a stick. *WHACK!*

That wasn't just any round object. That was a baseball!

Lily stepped out from behind the bushes. "Hello?"

The zombie jumped, dropping its stick. It turned slowly, and Lily saw its face wasn't scary at all. It was kind, with sad eyes that twinkled like stars.

"I'm Lily," she said bravely. "I'm a spy, but I promise not to tell your secrets."

The zombie's mouth curved into a shy smile. It touched its chest, then made a gesture like hitting a ball.

"You like baseball?" Lily asked. Her eyes lit up. "I have a bat and ball in my garage!"

For an hour, they played in the field near the pool. The zombie—whose name turned out to be Zimby, communicated through gestures—was amazing at baseball. Zimby could hit the ball farther than anyone Lily had ever seen.

But the best part was when Zimby pointed to the pool. He mimed swimming and laughed, revealing that he wasn't a scary zombie at all. He was a magical pool spirit who had been lonely for 100 years, waiting for someone who wasn't afraid to play.

The pool's water magically cleared, sparkling like diamonds. Zimby dove in and splashed joyfully.

Lily realized something important: sometimes the scariest-looking things are just the most lonely. And friendship, like baseball, is better when you take a chance and swing.

Every Saturday after that, Lily returned to play baseball with Zimby by the pool. And she never told another soul about the zombie who just needed a friend.