A Clean Slide

I walked down the sidewalk until I reached the glass bus shelter. Climbing onto the cedar bench, I found a smooth, rounded grey pebble resting near the backrest. A crisp, dried leaf had curled naturally beside it into a sturdy little hull. I set the pebble into the hollow of the leaf. Aligning the stem along the recessed groove between two wooden slats, I gave it a deliberate nudge with my gloved finger. The leaf skated forward across the smooth timber, gliding nearly two feet before coming to a quiet halt against a countersunk brass screw.