Hand-me-down treasure from the yard

Uh oh...looks like Murphy's found something out in the fenced section of woods that comprises his new pen.
It's a basketball! A flat, black Spaulding basketball that Lagniappe used to cherish.
This ball was once Lagniappe's favorite yard toy. He bit a hole in it within minutes of my giving it to him years ago, but he never cared. He loved it just the way that it was, and it was easier for him to grip in that state anyway. We played fetch with it almost every day and I must have thrown that flat, muddy ball a thousand times. But Lagniappe never tired of retrieving it or just carrying it around. It was his favorite right up until the end when he could no longer run even a little bit and I had to put it up. After Lagniappe was gone, I gave it one more throw, way back off into the woods. It was the last throw, in honor of my faithful pal. And this time it remained out there, unreturned.

But now it seems that the torch--or the ball--has been passed. Murphy found it and made it his. Now younger teeth will grip that ball and the games will continue. Worry not, Lagniappe. It's in good hands--or paws--again and it's still loved.

And honestly, every time I throw it I feel as if I'm throwing it for two dogs. Still miss ya, buddy.