Tick. Tock. The big clock echoed through the quiet house. Leo hung completely upside down from the sofa cushions. He let his arms dangle all the way down to the fluffy rug.
Leo squeezed his eyes shut. "Squeak!" he whispered into the shadows under the furniture. The living room wasn't quiet anymore. It was a dark, echoing cave, and he was a swooping bat.
Outside, the afternoon sun softly baked the vivid green lawn. A gentle breeze rolled across the damp dirt, making the bright sunshine dance against the patio. It was a perfectly warm summer day.
Crawling out onto the sunlit patio, Leo curled one hand tightly into a gentle paw. Swat, swat. He batted playfully at a fuzzy white dandelion, proudly watching the soft seeds float away.
A low rumble started deep down in his throat. Leo purred loudly, feeling the warm summer grass scratch lightly against his bare knees. Just ahead, a green bug rested on a clover leaf.
"Mroww," Leo hissed quickly, lunging forward with open hands. The tiny green bug launched into the air with a sudden snap! He scrambled eagerly after it, diving straight into the thick, leafy bushes by the fence.
Deep inside the tangled green vines, the dark shade felt wonderful. Leo pressed his back tightly against the rough red bricks of the patio wall. He held his breath and stood perfectly still.
He shifted his eyes sharply to the left, then immediately to the right. His tricky chameleon camouflage was working flawlessly against the sun-baked clay! Suddenly, a delicate yellow insect fluttered down and landed right on his nose.
Leo crossed his eyes tightly to stare directly at the tiny flying visitor. A giant, gleeful smile stretched widely across his entire face. He didn't even mind his missing front tooth.
Leo tipped his head boldly back toward the clear sky above. "ROAR!" he shouted loudly, officially letting out a wild, joyful noise. The completely average backyard vanished, replaced wonderfully by his own colorful, adventurous jungle.
