As the driver approached the intersection, the sight of a couple and their dog was not unusual in a suburban street. The dog enthusiastic and excited, bounding and pulling at its lead. Not a young dog but still its energy increasing at the chance to be out with its pack. One owner carrying a couple of things in a small pack, unbalanced a little as he prepares to cross the street. The dog again pulling the leash making him just tilt that little bit, but not totally off balance.
Then she remembers something at the last minute and turning tosses the ball she had in her hand to the dog. But the catch is missed!
The ball is now free. Free to be a bouncing little red globe. He tries to catch it with his hands full and it was really just an optimistic effort. It bounces clearing the dog again and landing near her. She also fumbling a second catch attempt, desperate to gather it from one hand to the other before it can start rolling down the hill. But the ball dribbles from her hands and begins to roll. Intent on being free it continued. With her feet she tries to block it and arrest its motion, then in a hesitant moment she went to run after it. But it was too late, momentum had stepped in. The ball gathered speed and accelerated down the grade of the road to freedom. And it was gone.
The driver had witnessed all this as it acted out very quickly, and as he paused to let the procession cross the road, they waved him on. He turned down the road, off in the distance he could see the ball disappear towards a drain at the bottom of the hill and he pursued it. As he got to the place it was no where to be seen, apparently freedom was found. But then there on the edge of a garden bed it rested. He hoped out and collecting it tried to draw the attention of the couple, now a distance away.
Taking off up the hill he caught up to them and passed the ball to the owner. They smiled appreciating his gesture, while the dog was none the wiser eager to continue its walk. And they did. The driver turned around and continued to his appointment that he would now not make on time. And it didn’t matter in the slightest.
(Copyright 2021 Kevin Palmer, all rights reserved)