Planting in the Soil

I walked down the porch steps toward the small vegetable patch with the three dried peas tucked into my pocket. The midday sun had warmed the dark earth beside the raised bed. Kneeling down on the dry grass, I picked up a smooth wooden plant marker and pressed its blunt end three inches into the loose loam, twisting it to open a clean hollow. I dropped one hard pea into the bottom, swept the crumbly soil over the opening with the side of my palm, and firmed it down with steady, measured pressure. Two more markers stand in line, ready for the rest.