The Yellow Roll

Sun popped! Morning light sliced straight across the porch planks! Right beside the bottom step sat a fuzzy yellow tennis ball! Big! Round! I charged straight in, leaped with both feet to stomp right on top—whoa! Ball spun, legs kicked air, dumped me flat on my belly! Scrambled up fast! Planted my feet, shoving my plush fist hard against the rubber curve to force it up the wooden riser! Up two inches—wobble-slip—wham! Rolled right back down and bumped my knee! Pushed straight ahead again, whole body leaning, until it jammed tight into the corner groove between step and wall! Trapped! Won!