Popping Path

I squeezed beneath the front gate into the bright morning air and trotted along the smooth concrete walkway. Lying flat against the pale stone was a stray strip of clear packing bubble wrap, its plump air domes glistening in the sun! Curiosity got the better of my four toes, so I took a running leap directly onto the fattest pocket. Snap-pop! A crisp, snappy burst echoed into the quiet air, giving my foot a tiny elastic jolt. Grinning wide with an open mouth, I bounded across the plastic track—pop, pop, crackle! I pumped both three-fingered hands high, letting my tail swish in pure rhythm with every joyful burst beneath my feet.