Testing the Bounce

A worn yellow tennis ball was wedged between two exposed tree roots near the hose reel. It appeared dense and round, like an odd river stone, but when I planted my claw squarely onto its curved back, it gave way with a soft squeak. I leaned my full weight into it, expecting it to crush flat against the soil. Instead, the moment I eased my stride, the rubber sprang straight back up, nudging my sole into the air. I pressed down once more, intrigued by the sudden rebound, before nudging it along the grass with my snout.