General

About three seconds later Bouncer leaps through the trees that line the path with a stick in her mouth. With those big brown eyes and her golden tail swishing like she just got all her birthday wishes at once, I know what she wants. She wants that slimy stick thrown down the path, and not once, but over and over. The bark is going to leave brown flecks on my hands, this specimen fell from the tree some time ago and been rained on. I wouldn't be too surprised if it snaps when it lands on the path. But I can never refuse Bouncer, she's just too damn cute. So I curl my fingers around the stick and feel the cool dampness. She releases it at once and sits. As my arm wheels backwards she runs forwards fast and instead of doing what she expects I wait until she stops and looks at me. Then I throw the stick back down the path behind me as far as I can and she hurtles after it. I walk all of six paces and she's back in front of me, eyes still dancing...