"Understump!"
Sacco called out.
"I am here, Sacco," came
the response from inside a bush. "What must I do?"
Sacco held up the ball. "I'm
going to throw this and you have to catch it and throw it back to
me," Sacco instructed the fairy. "I won't know where
you are, so if I throw it the wrong way, you have to run as fast
as you can to get to it. Okay?"
"Do I have to throw it right
to you?" Understump asked.
Sacco thought a moment, then shook
his head. "Just keep it in our yard, okay?"
Understump agreed and Sacco threw
the ball toward the bush. In a moment, it came flying from behind
the bush and Sacco caught it. He threw it again, and it rolled
off into the garden. When it came sailing back from between the
tomato plants, Sacco had to run to catch it. He held it up high,
laughing, and then threw it toward an old oak tree.
"What's he doing?"
Gregorio asked as he watched the two throw the ball back and
forth.
Atalaya shrugged. "What's his
plan?"
It was easier for Sacco to throw
the ball to Understump now because Understump was laughing, too.
They called out to each other as they played. "Good catch,
Sacco!" "That was quick, Understump!" His parents
looked down at Sacco's smiling, shiny face and were completely
puzzled.