A Small Round Pebble

Stepping down from the porch edge, my paws settled into the firm, packed earth of the garden path. I walked slowly along the low border stones, keeping an unhurried rhythm. Half-hidden under a spray of green moss, a smooth, rounded gray pebble caught my eye. I stopped and knelt carefully beside it. Pressing one paw against its cool curve, I rolled it a few inches forward into the sunlight. It made a faint, satisfying scrape across the dirt before settling into a tiny hollow. I kept my paw rested on it for a long while, enjoying the solid coolness beneath my touch.