A Little Rest For A Spell

It took another good thirty minutes before something else came to break the grueling bouncing tedium. Pretty sure Ash was also scraping the bottom of the paper bag with the ever-growing pileup of discarded balls off to the wayside. 

Footsteps on a gradual approach came to merciful spare my shoulder from popping off its socket. Accompanying those approaching steps was a voice, sounding just as weary as I was feeling.

"How's progress?" Irene stopped short beside the pile of balls, eyeing it with a rather peculiar look. "Judging by your pileup…"

I huffed, lowering my throbbing arm to the side. "Working on it still…"

My eyes turned her way, and my lips were straining hard not to form a smile.