Lately this ball has been seen many many times in my back yard. Usually when we least expect it. Why, just Monday night Ben and I were sitting in my swing in the back yard watching our delicate little Kimi playing in the grass, innocently unaware of what was about to creep up on us!

Suddenly she spotted it! Now mind you ....to the casual observer this appeared to be a normal plastic air-filled kick-ball that my kids play with. Something within Kimi told her otherwise. Is it her keen sense of hearing? Smelling? Her astute intelligence? Whatever it was Ben and I watched as the knowledge came over her that THIS was no ordinary ball!

She was laying in the grass when she spotted it. It rolled toward her...her head lifted....her eyes brightened...her ears perked up.....her muscles tensed. She slowly lifted to her feet.....her eyes never wavering from her 'victim'. Though she rose to her feet.....her body remained in 'crouch' position....ready as ever to leap to our defense! Slowly......ever...so...slowly...step...by...stealthy step she crept toward this 'object', her head lowered....her eyes keen and bright. Once again the ball shifted ever so slightly in her direction....and then....in a flash...THE CHASE WAS ON!!!!! Kimi struck with lightening speed.....she dashed toward the ball and ran 'round and 'round it looking for the best vantage point. (or the balls weakest point perhaps?) And all the while she ran, she was executing her most ferocious growl and bark......if she couldn't over power it by sheer size....she would intimidate it to death!! Kimi made several circles around this 'ball' before realizing that intimidation wasn't going to work. It was still in her yard!! Maybe after HER family!! She had to stomp it out!! Swallowing her fears she leapt upon this green evil thing.....it was big....beyond big. It was HUGE! She couldn't get a bite on it....she couldn't pierce it's tough hide with her razor-sharp puppy teeth! Not to fear though...for Kimi was here, and she WILL wipe out evil in all it's ugly forms!! (these evil things come in many different disguises you know!)

Her next line of attack was to back up and make a mad run at it......she leaped high....high into the air...(look...she's only six inches tall so give her a little room for exaggeration here ok?)...and came down smack on top of it!! WHOMP!! The air rushed from her lungs, the ball rolled over...with her still on it!! Kimi was knocked to the ground, but unhurt and undaunted she jumped to her feet and attacked it again...and again....!! She attacked it from the left......from the right....from the top..she even buried her nose under it and lifted IT high into the air (okay..so it only left the ground by about an inch...to her that was as good as a mile ok?) She might not be able to wipe this evil thing out with one hard blow, but she would do it with pure perseverence. It would NOT roll off with her family!! With every mighty attack from this furry little ball of fury she let out her most ferocious growl and bark.....maybe with luck she would just scare it off? So feirce were her growls that she had to stop once in the middle of her story to choke.....but come in guys, give her a break....she is pretty tough for one so tiny. You should be glad this little bundle of dynamite is willing to defend your precious families!

Suddenly Kimi switched tactics again. Was she trying to confuse this evil do- er so she could move in for her "kill"? This time she would run at it and bark as she approached it......nip on her way past....growl as she left it laying there stunned and confused. (good what she was trying to do is working then!) After several passes in just this manner the green ball of evil was still. It rolled no more. Just for good measure she 'hit' it again. From afar she made one last run at it...leaped high in to the air (ok....we have been there....you know the routine with it...) in her most Tigger like fashion she POUNCED it one last time...just for good measure you understand. It was finished. Kaput. She had finally knocked the air out of it! Kimi had won!!!!!! (Yeeaahh Kimi....our heroine!!) The ball lay flat and still....all the evil had been knocked from within. And Kimi...our worn out little angel- in-disguise lay panting in the grass. Tired but completely self-satsified with her do-good-deed of the day. Her family was safe......your families are safe....and none to soon. WHEW!! It was bed time for Kimi...

Kristi (thank God for this little savior of mine!!) Kimi...(aaawwwee.....mom....it was nothin!)