A Leaf on Paper

The bottom drawer of the wooden writing desk was pulled out just far enough for me to peek inside. Nestled in a shallow cedar divider sat a stamp carved in the shape of an oak leaf. Curious about the dark red ink clinging to its rubber ridges, I stepped closer and rested my front hooves steadily against the drawer's rim. With a gentle nudge of my nose, I tilted the heavy wooden handle forward until the rubber base pressed flat against a scrap of paper below. When it tipped back, a crisp, rust-colored leaf shape had bloomed on the pale page.