A practice in fiction.

 

Oh man! It’s time to play. It’s time it’s time it’s time it’s time!! It’s bright out. The grass is all mushy. I’ve been preparing for a week, and wait — I think — yes….she’s grabbing for the ball launcher! You know, the long blue one. This means business. And today is my day.

That’s Bruno. The one who’s jumping at the door. Now he’s going in a circle. Now he barked. Now he’s jumping again.  Forget Bruno. Today’s about me. Don’t let my calm posture deter you. Nor my slightly gray and peppered nose.

We’re ready to go. She walks, Bruno pulls. She walks slower, Bruno pulls harder. I’m just tag along. Today we are going to the park with the blue ball thrower.

She opens the gates to the best place on earth. And immediately she takes a ball and plunges it into the blue ball thrower. She winds up. Vroooom! The ball is thrust out with a g force that would change your hair line. Bruno darts after the tiny green fuzzy dot. The ball whizzing. Bruno, a blurred brown line.

And then… it’s my turn.

I turn on the jets. Blast! I fire on my old hips and shoulders. Tongue to the side, slobber in my eyes and go zipping to catch Bruno. He’s out of sight for a while. But then I see him. I’m gonna catch him! Oh wait, the ball’s already in his mouth, smile behind the ball. He’s running back. Just when he gets to me I whip around and follow his sleek brown coat as close as I can.

I’ll catch him this time. I’ve been planning it for a week. Today is the day I catch Bruno, and get the fuzzy ball.

I urge my legs to move, and WOW! they are moving. This is me in my prime. This is me getting faster. Feet dipping into the mushy grass. Slobber. Oh man it’s everywhere I’m free. I’m free! I’m a fast dog. Real fast.

Bruno gives her back the ball and she’s just gunning it out again by the time I get there. Shit. Bruno is off. I turn around like a top. Fast. Quick. Agile. Okay not that quick. Well, in fact it’s been quicker. But it’s smooth.

Bruno is already back, ball in mouth. What?! Double shit. He’s got the fuzzy ball, again!

This time I’m ready. Turning around unexpectedly like that threw off my plan. The plan was to let Bruno get one or two stride ahead (like he always does) but then really light my fire and zoom past him when he least expects it. I’ll surge past with a gush of wind twice the power of the dusts he leaves me each week.  I know the plan. I’ve been studying. I’ve been carefully doing this run in my sleep for the last two nights. This is the time. Bruno is the “fast dog,” but I know I’m faster.

I’ll get him this time.

The brown line that was Bruno is blurred and gone. But I’m right behind him. Tail is wagging. Oh yes, this is the one. I can smell him. I can see him. Here I come.

Users can also search for specific content or check out company forum the spotlight section, which is a personally curated way of surfacing music videos that users may otherwise have missed