Leo sprinted across the playground grass toward the green fence. His red ball was tucked under his arm. Then he saw Sam near the swings!
Sam's face lit up and he waved so hard his hat nearly flew off. Leo's smile grew wider as he dropped the ball and ran to meet him.
Leo picked up his ball and bounced it. One bounce, two bounces. But Sam just watched from the slide with his hands in his pockets.
Leo bounced it toward Sam, and the ball bonked gently off the slide rail. Sam's eyes went wide — then he giggled and reached out a hand.
Sam caught the ball and bounced it once, twice, three times — then whoosh! It zipped straight up, up, up over the green fence and into the tall grass.
They both froze. Then they both sprinted after it — across the fence, over the hill, into the tall golden grass beyond.
Leo found the ball tangled in a dandelion patch. He held it out to Sam. Sam took it and immediately tossed it back.
They bounced it back and forth, back and forth, until their feet wouldn't stop wiggling and their laughter wouldn't stop either.
