Two Boys, a Ball and a Dog
By Margie Harrell

      It began as a lazy Sunday morning as I relaxed while watching repeat CNN news all the while debating if I would go to mass at noon. I felt a pj’s day coming on with nothing in particular to attend to, just me, my patio and umpteen cups of tea. Just then the phone rang necessitating I get up from my cozy spot. As my mood was now interrupted I decided to get myself in gear and start the day in my favorite pew seventh row from the middle.
      When I arrived at church the señoras were still mopping down the floor as they do in between each service so I headed for the patio for some quiet time before mass was to begin. My tranquility didn’t last long as I was soon joined by two very active young boys tossing a ball back and forth. They were about 9-10 years old and their laughter quickly brought me back to my surroundings. A beagle pup was added to the mix and the fun took off.
      As the boys threw the ball the dog would run back and forth in hopes of snaring it. He was quick but the boys were quicker until the dog learned to run ahead of the ball to the opposite boy giving him a better chance of catching it in midair. As the boys and pup fell over each other I was caught up in the happy carefree moment. A silly grin was back on my face again, Mexico has a way of bringing it out every so often. The fun and joy they received from this simple game was a treat to watch.
      Everytime the dog caught the ball he would run and hide in a nearby bush as the boys would tug and pull at it sometimes lifting the pup clear off the ground trying to free it from his strong jaws. It was a draw as to who had the most energy, animal or children. Soon other churchgoers stopped to watch as we began to root for the dog. For me it brought back wonderful memories of similar games I had played many years ago before such indoor distractions as video games and the internet. Once when the ball rolled towards a gentleman he picked it up and threw it to the dog amid squeals of delight from the boys.
      All too soon the church bells chimed announcing mass was about to begin but not before I caught a glimpse of the priest watching from behind a pillar. The whole encounter hadn’t lasted more than ten minutes but it put a whole new spin on the rest of my day. Two boys, a ball and a dog. It could only happen on a patio in the heart of Mexico on a lazy Sunday morning.