Ripples on the Basin

I stood completely motionless along the cool rim of the stone birdbath, studying my colorful visor reflection across the glassy water. Everything in the yard rested in tranquil silence—until a sudden gust whipped through the pine needles overhead! A severed metal hook snapped loose, sending a heavy decorative glass prism hurtling straight toward the calm pool! Action stations! I broke into a full-throttle sprint along the narrow stone curve, leaped horizontally across the water gap, and snatched the tumbling crystal mid-air with both hands! Twisting through the arc, I drove both boots down squarely onto the mossy pedestal below, locking the gleaming prize securely against my chest.