Crumpled Company

*tsh tsh tsh*

I hear something bouncing as I take my afternoon stroll. I look back to see a small paper ball, carelessly bouncing down the sidewalk with me. It stops near my feet.

I cock my head like a dog. Interested... but not intrigued. It's a random piece of paper, and its noticeably dirty too. I'm not picking that trash up.

I continue walking as normal. The gentle wind, while inviting of odd guests, was cool and refreshing. Swiftly caressing both myself and the surrounding nature. Trees, flowers, bugs n blades of grass... all wistfully enjoying the breeze with me. I smile warmly; not often does one get to enjoy a walk such as th-

*tsh tsh tsh*

My thoughts stop as I hear a *familiar* sound approaching me again. I sigh, and turn again looking down. A familiar, small paper ball, is once again at my feet. I roll my eyes and try to ignore it, continuing to walk and observe the trees. But this time... the paper ball catches up with me. I walk at a brisk pace, looking down as the paper ball bounds alongside me. 

I stop for a moment, trying to let the wind sweep the trash away. And as if some divine force was watching me, the wind calms. The ball coming to a rest just a few feet before me. I start walking again and pass it, thinking maybe now's a good time to get ahead. And once again I feel the wind pick up as a wave of contempt washes over me. Within moments, the ball catches up, and once again we are side by side.

I shake my head and continue, doing my best to ignore it...

...But I simply cant. The gentle creaks and chirps and breeze are all being masked by a consistent sound of crinkling.

I feel my mood begin to sour once more. 

"I just wanted to enjoy a stroll, and now a paper ball is harassing me." I think as I let out a huff...

But then, as if my subconscious was comforting me, I remember something I read recently. In a recent stir, I subscribed to one of those daily motivation emails. While most of it was obvious to me, one of its well put messages bubbled in my mind:

"Your day is what you make of it. Be it good or bad, it can never control your mood if you don't let it. For a ship can only sink if it lets the water in."

Thinking of that, suddenly the ball bothers me a lot less. I look down at it again. Sometimes a little ahead, sometimes a little behind, it continues to follow me. Even as I take a turn on the path, I feel the winds shift again to blow the little piece of parchment right back to me again. 

And in time, I find its little hops and persistence rather amusing. I think back to my rougher thoughts prior:

"How could I let such a small thing upset me. A paper ball is following me, so my walk is ruined? Rubbish!" 

I think with a smirk. 

"If anything, I'm rather impressed with it sticking with me so long. Perhaps it has bonded to me like a baby duck, or perhaps some bored higher power has decided to spend the afternoon messing with me." I think as I rub my chin, once again looking down at the ball.

This continues for a while as I round the park. As I begin to finish up, I come to the part where my apartment is. It's off the sidewalks path so I usually just cross the grass. Once again as I stop and change direction, the wind and ball come with me... but this time, I hear something different.

*Tsh tsh tshhhhh...*

And suddenly, it is silent. I stop and look back, seeing the poor ball shifting and shaking as it tries to push past the thick grass. "It had been a second since they mowed after all. Suppose they won't till next Tuesday." I think as I look down on it and pinch my lips to the side.

I think once more of picking it up, once again reminding myself of its... uncleanly state. I hesitate to justify picking up someone else's litter, but honestly I couldn't think why not! We'd just walked the whole park together! It wouldn't be nice if I just left it in a rut. 

I step over and, begrudgingly, pick the little dirtball up. Stepping over onto the sidewalk, I wrap my hands around to re-crumple it for its long journey ahead...

...but for just a moment, I wonder... "What's on it?"

I think: is it really worth it? This ball was already dirty, and that was before it rolled around the ENTIRE park...".

I think for but a moment, but ultimately decide:

"My hands are already dirty from touching it and I'll have to wash once I get home anyways. Will a little more dirt truly be the make or break of my discovery?"

I take a deep breath, slowly unraveling the ball. It had followed me around the ENTIRE park, surely it would have something interesting to say. I uncrumple layer by layer and I can see writing on it! Its clearly handwritten and my mind starts to wonder of what it could say!

Maybe it was a letter from some group trying to reach me, maybe it was a higher calling trying to teach me

Maybe it was a secret message meant for another, that now I had the privilege of learning

Or maybe, just maybe, it was a message I'd never forget... 

I flatten it out a bit, it was now folded in two, I peel it open to see a message just for me!

"Made you look."

. . .

I crumble the ball again slowly, back into its little curvy form, and give it a very, VERY firm crush to tighten it. I drop it again onto the sidewalk, and like clockwork, the wind changes to blow it away once more. Down the sidewalk it tumbles, *tsh tsh tsh* n' all, till its out of my sight.

I turn and walk home once again... thinking about what we'd just been through, and thinking of how I was rewarded for my effort.

For a moment, I feel my mood sour.

And then, I remember.

And then, rather amused,

I smile.