The football field stretched wide and green. Syder stood at the edge, the red football at his feet.
Syder kicked the football hard — it bounced off the post with a loud BOING and rolled into the grass. He stamped his foot. Bingo trotted over and dropped a slobbery tennis ball at his shoe.
Syder picked up the football and tried again. He missed by a mile. He tried a third time and tripped over his own feet.
Bingo just pants and wags his tail like nothing is wrong. The football sits near the sideline, waiting.
Syder sat down hard next to the goalpost. His lip wobbled.
He picked up the slobbery tennis ball and tossed it gently to Bingo, who caught it mid-air and did a happy little spin.
He thought maybe he could try one more time.
Syder picked up the football one more time. He closed his eyes and kicked — WHOOSH!
The ball soared through the air and Bingo leaped up — but he couldn't quite catch it. It landed with a soft thud inside the net. Syder's mouth dropped open. Bingo dropped the slobbery tennis ball at his foot and wagged his whole body.
Syder laughed until his cheeks hurt. He plopped down beside Bingo and scratched behind his floppy ears. Bingo licked his nose and rested his head on Syder's knee. They sat together on the grass as the sun slid low, the football resting between them.