A Crisp Morning Harvest

I set out across the smooth kitchen counter toward a small wicker basket where two fresh strawberries rested side by side. One had tilted onto its leafy stem, leaving a tiny dusting of powdered sugar astray beside a ceramic spoon. Approaching with steady, measured steps, I braced my gloved hands against the cool, glossy fruit and gently eased it upright into a cushioned nest of dry mint leaves. With the tip of an unused dessert fork, I swept the stray white sugar into a tidy half-moon along the dish's edge. Now everything rests in cheerful, appetizing balance for the morning ahead.