Piper’s Favorite Game

I love to chase my ball. Sometimes when it’s too cold outside or too wet and muddy or too dark we play inside. That “too cold” part is for Mom Diana. It’s never too cold for me to play ball outside. That’s because I was born in Alaska. And I lived in Michigan for nine years. That’s where I learned to play chase with my ball.

Mommie Kim taught me. She even sent my ball along with me when I moved to the country to live with Mom Diana. It’s fun running after the ball and catching it in the country. Sometimes these big red squirrels run away from me when I’m trying to catch the ball. They get to one of the trees and wag their tails at me and cheer me on. The birds fly away and make all kinds of noises. Everybody’s cheering for me to catch the ball.

Sometimes I jump really, really high and catch the ball while it’s still flying. Sometimes it hits the ground before I get it. Sometimes it gets lost, especially when there are leaves leaving the trees and filling up the grass. It would get lost in the snow too. That’s why we can’t play ball in the snow. It’s not ‘cause it’s too cold.

Inside I still can jump to catch the ball. Mom bounces it and it goes way up in the air. That’s when I jump to catch it. Other times she throws it across the floor, and I have to run really hard to catch it before it hits the wall. Sometimes I slide on the floor. They’re slippery but not from water or anything I did. I’m a good girl! It’s just the way they are. I don’t think when Mom chose this floor, she was thinking we’d be playing ball.

Sometimes I chase the ball in what is called the great room. That’s where we watch TV and cuddle on the sofa. We also play in the hallway. I like both places even if they aren’t outside.

Outside is the best ever. That’s because I get to run longer, and all those other critters are cheering me on. But I don’t really care where we play ball. It’s okay wherever we play. I’m happy as long as I get to play chase with my ball.