A Leaf That Floats

I slipped through the door flap and stepped out onto the cool brick garden path, eager for the open air. Near the mossy border, a shallow glazed saucer rested on the bricks, filled with clear rainwater. A stiff, curved dry leaf lay nearby. I pushed it patiently across the grit with my snout until its pointed tip met the water. The leaf slid out and floated, bobbing softly on the quiet surface. Looking down at the miniature raft, I nudged a tiny smooth pebble toward the rim with my claw and guided it onto the center of the stem. The leaf dipped, shuddered, and held its cargo without sinking.