A Snug Little Hat

I slipped through the cracked front door and hopped down onto the cool wooden porch steps, eager for some fresh afternoon air. Right beside the railing post rested a plump brown acorn, wearing a rough, bumpy cap pulled down tight over its crown. Could its little hat come off? I sat down on the plank, wrapped both paws around the woody rim, and gave a steady, gentle twist. Pop! The textured cup slipped free, revealing a smooth, pale spot hidden underneath. When I gave the polished nut a light tap with my green shoe, it zipped straight across the weathered cedar boards like a tiny brown marble, leaving its little bowl rocking quietly behind.