Photo byNik Shuliahin 💛💙onUnsplash

Once upon a time, in the beautiful, lush state of Maine, known as ME to its buddies, there lived a bunch of energetic, sprightly young kids who just couldn't keep away from a rather bouncy fellow named Mr. Basketball. Maine, with its enchanting forests and tranquil, sparkling lakes, was a picture of idyllic calm. But the moment Mr. Basketball made an appearance, the tranquility turned into a whirl of excitement. These Maine kids were a lovable, noisy bunch who had a knack for dribbling, shooting, and throwing Mr. Basketball through a hoop. Their laughter echoed across the pine trees and elks would often stop munching on their favorite blueberry bushes just to watch these youngsters play. Maine's longest resident, a brilliant, old moose named Marvin, fondly watched over them from the sidelines. He'd often shake his huge antlers and yell, "Bounce that ball, kiddos!" Mr. Basketball, despite all the bouncing and squeezing, never lost his spirit. In fact, he loved the attention and the adventure! He would occasionally get a bit dizzy though, but that was all part of the fun. After all, who wouldn't want to fly through the air and score a perfect "swoosh" in the basket? So, in the captivating landscape of Maine, these basketball-loving kids and their round, rubbery friend created a symphony of laughter and sport. They had a blast, and Marvin the Moose did too, even if he did grumble about the noise every now and then. But deep down, he knew he wouldn't have it any other way. Because, in Maine, basketball wasn't just a game. It was a celebration of friendship, fun and, of course, a very resilient, bouncy, Mr. Basketball.