The Adventures of Peter Gray chapter 5: Kick-the-Can
Chapter 5 Kick-the-Can "Ready?" "Yeah!" "And begin!" In me opinion, they should have kick-the-can be played in stadiums, because nothing compared to it. The fancy universities had basketball, the nobles and rich gents owned polo, but we street boys had kick-the-can. And nothing soothed me nerves better than a playful game with other boys. I accidentally bumped into Danny, a fox from down the street, who had the can. "Hey! Watchit, ya dumb wolf!" he said, but carried a smirk on his muzzle. I smirked back. Well, almost playful. While other kits, cubs, and even James's little sister Annabelle watched from afar, I played with me team composed of meself and James. The opposing team was made of Bromley the newsie and another newsie, a black furred raccoon two feet taller than me everyone called Frankie. We started over with Bromley starting with the old can. The Shepherd kicked the can to Frankie who passed by me attempts to block him. He was quick, and so was Bromley, both of whom were newsies. Bromley kicked it in between his foot pads and dribbled the dang thing like a soccer ball, but I managed to keep him away long enough for James to take the can and kick it in between the trash bins opposite of the street. "One to zero!" I laughed, playfully patting James's back. "Nice kick, James." Bromley also commented with a wag of his tail, "Yeah, nice goal." James looked to me and laughed. "Thanks, Peter," he said with a smile. "I got my first goal, thanks to you." "Aye, it's an achievement as high as flying, boy," I joked. "Next thing ya know, ya shall be President of these 'ere States." I laughed with him and went to get the can. "Jamie! Jamie!" Annabelle laughed her little girl voice. I couldn't help but give a small smile to her face. But with that, while she innocently sat on the stairs to her tenement building, I earned meself a "doggie" comment. We started over with me with the can. I had spent years on the streets perfecting me skills with this game, whether it be with a broken bottle, a can of beans, or an empty one, I knew the twists and turns to kick-the-can. And with James, Annabelle, and the rest here, now was me chance to shine. "Ready, everyone?" I asked with each side looking to me. "'ere ya go!" I kicked it high in the air. And it crashed through the tenement building's window across from me. James and Frankie looked at me flatly while Bromley did his best to suppress laughter I meself deserved.
"Relax, everyone, I'll get it..." Mumbling, I walked me way to the tenement house and opened the door. After fifteen minutes or so of finding the right room, I discovered the right address to the roof. And boy did it smell like a dumpster. Oh bless me tail and the Lord! I covered me nose and coughed loudly. The foul smells came from rotten food and fruit from the last occupant. And from the looks of it, they didn't like the landlord. What is this, Five Points on holiday?! Wheezing and dying, me paws blindly searched the ground for the can. They found old clothes, broken wood, a shattered bottle, even a dress torn with blood and booze. I felt something round eventually, but me eyes barely saw the logo on it to be sure it was right. As soon as I pulled outta the building, I fixed a smile and perked me ears brightly with my victory. "Alrighty then! Let us play!" I happilt tossed the can on the street in front of me human friend, but James picked it up curiously and suddenly began laughing. "What is it?" In response, he showed it to the other fursons and they laughed too. "What?" James, still giggling like a loon, tossed it to me. It read 'Southern Joe's Fresh Olives', and I frowned with folded ears. I was such a dumb wolf. James, composing himself with a wry smile, asked, "Are you sure you don't like olives?" He and the other two giggled shortly. I threw it to the ground at me footpaws. "Shut up and play."