TIME FOR A SQUISHY BALL

" Oh,  Major!  What have you done?  "

The dulcet tones of Major's owner wrang out in the picturesque picnic spot,  but he was far too busy contemplating the demise of his cherished playtoy to take much notice.

He'd had that particular tennis ball since he was a tiny puppy,  and of all the toys adorning his garden back home,  that silly little fluffy round thing had always been his favourite.  Failing to comprehend how the spherical object had managed to collapse into two, he nudged one half with his snout,  and prodded it with a tentative paw,  letting out a resigned snuffle.

By now,  Steve, his owner had finally caught up with him,  and sighing,  placed a reasuring hand upon Major's furry back,  gently stroking and smiling at the same time

" Don't worry me old matey,  I'll nip down to the sports shop in the morning and get you another one.  I've got to go and sign the divorce papers with the bitch Queen,  so I can make a detour whilst I'm there "

Major frowned. Letting out his salivating tongue from the left side of his mouth.   Clearly his owner did not fully grasp the gravity of the situation.  This was his comfort ball,  his little friend,  coated in reminiscent scent and drool and steeped in happy memories that no new ball could replace.  This ball was given to him when the girls were still quite young,  and he always brought it here to the avenue of trees,  and chased it around,  pretending that he didn't know his owner was hiding behind the big Oak in the centre every time!

This was important,  life and death,  the centre of his universe,  not just any old ball! 

" I'll get you one of those really bouncy squishy balls that you so love when you're over at mum's house playing with Rex"

Major's ears pricked up.  Squishy ball,  just like Rex's?    Hmmmm... now we're not just whistling Dixie!

Trotting back towards the car, his tail high like a bumper car's power line,  he smiled to himself as he gathered up his leash within his mouth and chased his tail for a few fleeting seconds. 

Hey,  it was just a stupid tennis ball,  it didn't mean that much to him!    Anyway,  It was soooo yesterday, really.