Felt and Elasticity

I found an abandoned yellow tennis ball wedged beneath the bottom rail of the chain-link fence by the court. Its felt was weathered and dusted with dry grit. I stepped close to inspect the curve, gripping the cool galvanized wire with both hands for balance. Raising my right foot, I rested the ball of my sock squarely on the felt crown and leaned my weight into it. The hollow core yielded with firm, quiet resistance before rebounding cleanly against my sole. A slight roll of my ankle nudged it free from the curb, letting it settle flush against the post. Dependable elasticity. I remained standing by the fence, watching the subtle fibers settle.