Predatory Stick

Day 50: Nobody ever told this kid that you're not supposed to expose your tender tummy to a predator. "Stick" is Merry's favourite interactive game. As soon as I have my first cup of coffee warmed up in the morning, I ask him, "Do you want to play with Stick? Let's go play with Stick!" and he responds by running into the living room and laying down beside it. "Stick's gonna getcha!" I say, and run the tip of it across the carpet. He leaps on it, grabs it with all four paws (and trust me, he can hang on as tight as any monkey) and bites on it. When I finally get it away from him, I tap it on the floor beside him. What follows is a series of writhing contortions as Stick eludes him, Merry rolling from side to side. Sometimes he comes to rest in this position. "Stick's gonna get your tummy!" I say as I lay it across his exposed underside and wiggle it back and forth. He folds up like a clam...a clam with a shiny mouthful of sharp teeth. But it's all a game, and he knows and respects the limits. When his poor old mama is worn out of playing, he happily...make that "Merrily"...goes off to see what other kinds of trouble he can get into.