Even though Mishca Dog's owner was very strict, Mishca Dog loved to play in the park. A game of fetch the stick was good for exercise and for the quality time spent with his owner.

 The owner would toss the stick through the air and Mishca Dog would watch its every movement until it landed with a thud on the grass. Mishca Dog's little legs would speed across the ground, fetch the stick and return it to his owner for a pat on the head.

 Mishca Dog's owner would tell him when he thought he wasn't doing proper things, like running up on little children and chasing cars. Most adults loved the dog and Mishca Dog soaked in the praise like a sponge.

 Buddy Cat was in the park that day, too. Buddy Cat played with a little, red ball that he rolled with his paw. Buddy Cat played alone and when Mishca Dog suddenly snatched the ball, Buddy Cat arched his back and hissed.

 "Give me that back," hissed the cat.

 "Drop that ball, Mishca Dog!" demanded his owner.

 Mishca Dog looked between the two and dropped the now-slobbery ball on the ground. Not only was it slobbery, but Mishca Dog's jaws had clamped down on the ball so hard that it sliced the ball almost in two.

 "Look at my ball, you ruined it!" said the cat.

 "That wasn't yours!" said the owner, taking a hold of the dog's collar. "You broke the cat's ball, so you have to give him something in exchange."

 Mishca Dog looked at his owner. He didn't mean the fetch stick, did he? He looked at his owner again and knew that was exactly what he meant. Mishca Dog picked up the stick and dropped it at the cat's feet.

 "What do I do with this? It doesn't roll and isn't pretty like my ball," said the cat, pawing the stick. "I can't play with this."

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 "See, you can fetch it," said the dog. He showed what "fetch" meant.

 "Cats don't fetch!" said the cat.

 Suddenly Mishca Dog had a great idea. He took the stick and put it up against a tree. "You can use this to scratch your nails on."

 Buddy Cat hadn't thought of that. Buddy Cat stretched and scratched to sharpen his claws. This fetch stick was just right for scratching.

 Mishca Dog lost his fetch stick, but Buddy Cat gained it. What Mishca Dog gained was taking responsibility for his actions. The pat he received on the top of his head from his owner, showed he had done the right thing.

 Winner:  Evan Taylor of New Ger-many received his prize through the mail for sending in the answer.

  Question about the story: What happened to the ball when the dog bit down on it?

 Send answers to Storytime, c/o Verna Dunlop, RR#1, Moser River, NS BOJ 2KO or e-mail the answer to the question to vernadunlop@yahoo.com. Prizes will be sent to those sending in the answer.

posted on 03/23/10