The Great War

Quietly he walks down the hallway. He gets to the door and peers into the living room. Carefully, he walks in the room, sneaking up on it. He pounces and lands right on it, and grabs it with his teeth. The Great Golden Retriever has caught the tennis ball. The ball never had a chance. The retriever was too quick and strong. But now, what to do with it. He chewed on it a few times and started to look around. He sees The Master. He takes the ball over to the master and sits beside him. The master does not see him. He only sits watching the box with the bright colours.

The retriever puts his nose on the master's thigh. But the master only rubs the dog's head. What is wrong with the master? Does he not see the ball? The retriever does not understand. It is simple, see the dog with the ball, take the ball out of the dog's mouth, throw the ball and the dog retrieves the ball. Hence the name, Retriever.

The master sits and watches the box. The retriever growls, trying to get the master's attention. The master looks down and sees the drooling dog with his head on his lap. There is a ball in the dog's mouth. A slimy tennis ball dripping with drool. The master understands and puts his fingers around the ball in the dogs mouth. The retriever shakes his head and the master's hand slips out of his mouth.

Okay, try again. The retriever puts his head on the master's lap and looks up, with his big brown eyes. The master gets a better grip on the ball and starts to shake it, trying to get it out of the dog's mouth, but the ball is clamped hard in the dog's teeth. The master shakes the ball, the retriever growls and holds on tight. The head shakes and the growling gets louder. The master lets go of the ball, and the retriever puts his head on the lap again. The master gets a grip on the ball again and the tug of war and the growling starts again. The dog's head shakes side to side, keeping his teeth clenched on the ball. The master then inserts his fingers in the dog's mouth, behind the ball and pops it out. The ball bounces on the floor and the retriever runs after it. He pounces on the ball again, then lays down with the ball between his front paws, so that he can bite on it. After a few bites, he picks it up in his mouth and brings it back to the master. The master only looks down at him. What is wrong with the master? The game is not finished yet.

The retriever rubs his chin on the master's thigh to tell the master to get into the game. The master understands and grabs the ball. The master holds on tight and the tug of war begins again. The master knows what worked the last time and tries to get his fingers behind the ball to pull it out. But the retriever knows that trick also and hangs on tightly. The master shakes the ball and the retriever tries to shake the master's hand off. So the shaking continues. The retriever growling and the master laughing at him. Laughing. The master thinks this is funny, but it is very serious stuff.

The retriever bears down and shakes back and forth, harder than ever, the growling getting louder and louder. The master is laughing louder, still hanging on to the ball. Okay, it's time to get serious. The retriever stands up on his hind legs and wraps his front paws around the master's hand. The war continues. The shaking of the head and the growling. But now, the retriever has the advantage. His claws starts to scratch the master's arm. Laugh at that, Master. The master starts to complain and lets go of the ball.

The retriever drops his front paws and stares at the master, breathing heavily. The master looks back at the dog, rubbing his arm. The master does not appear to want to play anymore. The retriever drops the ball on the floor and licks his lips, trying to get the taste of master fingers out of his mouth. The master goes after the ball, but the retriever is too fast and picks it up first. The master sits back in his chair and looks at the dog. The retriever drops the ball again and when the master tries to pick it up, the retriever gets to it first, again.

Now the master sits back in his chair waiting to see what the retriever will do. They stare at each other and the retriever drops the ball, a third time. They look at each other. A face off. Each wondering what the other will do. The master feints to go after the ball, but the retriever goes down and puts his mouth on the ball. The master sits back and the retriever lifts his head, leaving the ball on the floor. The master feints for it again and the retriever puts his mouth on the ball, never giving an inch. The retriever is clever and fast. He is the Great Golden Retriever. The master bends over and pats the dog on the head. He then sits back in his chair and turns his attention to the big box with the bright colours.

He has won. The Great War of December 16 is over and the retriever is the winner. The retriever gets up, leaves the ball and goes to get a drink of water. A victory drink.

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