It took another good thirty minutes before something else came to break the grueling bouncing tedium. Pretty sure Ash was also scraping the bottom of the paper bag with the ever-growing pileup of discarded balls off to the wayside.
Footsteps on a gradual approach came to merciful spare my shoulder from popping off its socket. Accompanying those approaching steps was a voice, sounding just as weary as I was feeling.
"How's progress?" Irene stopped short beside the pile of balls, eyeing it with a rather peculiar look. "Judging by your pileup…"
I huffed, lowering my throbbing arm to the side. "Working on it still…"
My eyes turned her way, and my lips were straining hard not to form a smile.