* * * Hop Hopscotch - Page 6

"Let's make it a "REST" square," Punky finally suggests. "That way, if we get tired, we can rest on it."

"Okay," Elena says happily. "Let's decorate it and make it special."

"Yeah," Punky agrees. "We'll make it look pretty."

They both make the "REST" square colorful and decorate it with lots of flowers and hearts. Soon they can't even see the extra 76.  The girls finally get their hopscotch done. It works out perfectly with square  34 jutting off to the side and the extra REST square allowing them to take a break when they get tired.

The two little girls enjoy their game. With their skirts flying, braids bouncing, arms waving, and huge laughing smiles on their faces, they go up and down the squares. Sometimes they hop together, sometimes in opposite directions. This is truly the best hopscotch in the world.

Kicker, Katya, and Merkeeta even come by to see what these kids have drawn. Kicker thinks it's silly.

"What do you call this?" she asks them in a sort of teasing way.

"Yeah, what silly game is this?" Merkeeta joins in. "You two didn't know when to stop, did you?"

"We did it this way on purpose," Punky replies. "We like it this way."

"Well, what do you call it?" Kicker asks again. "Don't Know When to Stop-scotch?"

The three friends giggle at this.

"We call it Hop Hopscotch," Elena replies. "If you're nice to us, you can even try it."

The three older girls try the amazingly long hopscotch and agree that it's actually fun and good exercise, too. In the next few days, everyone in the neighborhood wants to plays on the Hop Hopscotch.