Josue kicked the ball so hard it soared over the fence. It vanished into the bushes. He gasped, his sneakers skidding on the grass.
He spotted the ball wedged deep inside a hollow oak root. The silence of the empty field pressed in around him as he reached for it.
His fingers brushed something slimy and cold. A sudden rustle made him pull back, revealing a small turtle wearing a tiny red bandana.
The turtle clung tighter, dragging him toward a muddy patch. Josue realized the turtle wasn't attacking; it was trying to keep balance.
The turtle pointed a claw at the ball, then at a loose branch nearby. Josue grabbed the branch and used it like a lever to pry the ball free.
The ball popped out with a wet squelch, rolling straight onto the turtle’s shell. Josue smiled, picking up the muddy ball carefully.
He placed it beside the turtle. He patted the dirt off his knees and looked toward the path where other kids were arriving.
The turtle gave a slow, deliberate blink before disappearing into the grass. Josue watched it go, clutching his clean ball.