A Tower of Three Stones

I hopped along the gravel path down toward the river wall near Exeter Bridge. Resting along the wide sandstone coping, three flat river slate pebbles lay scattered beside a curled dry leaf. I paused to study their shapes. Sliding the widest, roughest piece into the center, I steadied the base. With both front paws guiding each side, I eased the second slate square across the first. It wobbled slightly, then settled with a faint gritty tick. The smallest stone was tricky, but with a patient nudge, its sharp edge slotted neatly into a shallow hollow. My three-stone tower held firm against the river breeze.