One sunny afternoon, Michael and his dad were playing golf at the little course near their house. The grass was bright green, the air smelled like summer, and Leo was feeling quite proud of himself. He had hit a few good shots, and Dad had even said, “That’s the best swing I’ve seen all day!”
But then, on the seventh hole, Michael took a big swing—and his golf ball disappeared.
“Where did it go?” Michael asked, shading his eyes.
Dad looked left, then right. “Hmm… it must be hiding somewhere.”
Michael ran to the tall grass, checking behind trees and under bushes. “It’s gone,” he groaned. “Just like that.”
Dad smiled and leaned on his club. “Well now, Michael, a golf ball never really *disappears.* It’s just waiting to be found.”
Michael frowned. That didn’t make much sense. But he took a deep breath and started searching again—this time, a little slower. He peeked under a leaf, looked near a small rock, and—oh! There it was, nestled in the grass just a few steps away from where he started.
“I found it!” he cheered.
Dad patted him on the back. “See? Sometimes, when things feel lost, you just have to look at them from a different angle.”
Michael thought about that as he set up his next shot. Maybe losing a ball wasn’t so bad. Maybe it was just part of the game—just like trying, learning, and laughing along the way.
And so, with a big swing and an even bigger smile, Michael sent the ball soaring back onto the fairway, ready for whatever came next.