A Three-Stone Tower

I stepped onto the broad, flat surface of the old cedar stump beside the raspberry canes. Near a patch of dry lichen sat three thin river stones, smooth and slate-gray. Instead of nudging them away, I decided to test their balance. I carefully guided the widest stone to the center of the ringed grain. With slow, measured presses of my paws, I lifted the second, narrower stone until it rested flat across the base. The third piece was small and slightly wedged, but I eased it into place and held my posture steady until the wobble ceased. A tidy three-tier tower stood completely balanced.