The park is full of kids playing tag. Barnaby runs toward them, ears perked and tail swishing. 'Too strange!' the fox kids yelp. They scatter and hide behind the swings.
Barnaby stops. His ears droop. His tail goes still. The slide creaks in the wind. He watches them from a few feet away.
Barnaby tries to play catch. He holds out a red ball. The fox kids chase it — but run away when he reaches for it. His ears stay down.
He tries hopscotch. The bunny kids hop away. He tries hide-and-seek. The squirrel kids vanish behind the big oak tree. Barnaby sits on the bench alone.
The park is loud with laughter. None of it is for him. Barnaby keeps his eyes on the ground.
A thin meow cuts through the noise. Barnaby's ears swivel toward it. He looks up. A tiny kitten is stuck in the tallest tree.
Barnaby's ears perk up. His tail gives a single thump. He knows what to do. He leaps onto the trunk and digs his quick paws into the bark.
He climbs — up, up, up. His dog ears twitch like compass needles, finding the kitten's cries. He reaches the branch and scoops up the fluffy kitten.
He climbs down with the kitten held safe. The other animal kids watch from below, their mouths open. The kitten nuzzles Barnaby's nose and purrs.
'Can you play with us?' asks the fox. Barnaby's ears shoot up. His tail wags a happy rhythm. 'Ready or not, here we come!' The group runs together.
