A Polite Canopy

A dry, curled maple leaf came tumbling onto the flagstones, catching the afternoon draft and rolling near a tiny dandelion seedling. Nearby lay an unbent pastel paperclip and a strip of forgotten lace ribbon. I smoothed the crinkled leaf flat beneath my plush shoes so it wouldn't skitter away. With patient nudges of both hands, I threaded the metal clip through the stem, anchoring the spine firmly upright between two weathered stone crevices. Then, draping the delicate lace over the leaf's serrated tip, I formed a dainty parasol over the fragile young sprout. It stands pleasantly shaded and composed now.