Silver Parachutes

A round, feathery dandelion puff stood balanced right beside the stone edging. I stopped... watching its halo of silver umbrellas tremble in the faint breeze. Taking a slow, patient hop forward, I leaned my plush cheek against the slender stem. It bowed softly. With a tiny papery whisper, a cluster of white seed tufts broke free, lifting into the air like drifting specks of dust. One downy parachute drifted back down, catching lightly on the tip of my ear. I tucked my front paws beneath me and pressed close to the warm flagstone, watching the tiny flyers float away.