A Silver Ring

The garden gate was open a crack... so I slipped through. My paws padded softly across the warm flagstones toward the park path. Propped against a wooden bench was a little balance bike, resting low to the ground. On the handlebar sat a round chrome bell, shining like a drop of water. I took three cautious steps... then paused. Standing on my hind legs, I reached up and tapped the small metal lever with my nose. Ping-ng! A bright, silvery chime buzzed right into my whiskers. My own collar bell jingled back. I leaned against the warm front tire, listening happily as the ring drifted away into the breeze.