foot ball but Pinecone is the ball

I pushed past the front gate and waddled down the sidewalk to see what kind of games the morning had waiting! Right beside the curb lay a plump, spiky pinecone just begging to roll. Naturally, I lined it up, backed up three bouncy paces, and gave it a hearty kick with my soft shoe. *Scritch-rattle-tumble!* It skittered along the rough asphalt like a runaway hedgehog, bouncing straight toward a row of three upright yellow dandelion heads near the storm drain. *Bonk!* Down went the first dandelion, scattering yellow petals across the concrete! I threw my plush arms up and let out a merry chuckle—a perfect morning strike!