The rules have changed
For years now, Nutmeg and Digby have had different ideas about how this game of "Throw The Ball" is played. Nutmeg has always thought the point of the game was a race to see who could get to the ball first; you pick it up to prove you got there before anyone else, then drop it. Digby always thought the aim of the game was to get the ball and then make the human throwing it have a wrestle to get it back, basically a sophisticated version of footbottle (like football/keep-away, but played with cheaper, less poppable PET bottles).
This last week, Nutmeg suddenly worked out that if she brings the ball back to me, then I throw it again and she gets her game without all the waiting around. Faster, and more of it. She's delighted.
Digby is sulking at the loss of his game. I've reinstated footbottle games to make it up to him, as Nutmeg has no interest in playing that game (although for a really satisfying game, you need at least three people). But it does make the prospect of wearing Nutmeg out in the park a lot more interesting.
This last week, Nutmeg suddenly worked out that if she brings the ball back to me, then I throw it again and she gets her game without all the waiting around. Faster, and more of it. She's delighted.
Digby is sulking at the loss of his game. I've reinstated footbottle games to make it up to him, as Nutmeg has no interest in playing that game (although for a really satisfying game, you need at least three people). But it does make the prospect of wearing Nutmeg out in the park a lot more interesting.