Seeds on the Stone

I stepped down the porch steps into the front garden and spotted a dry, weathered sunflower head resting near the flowerbed border. Kneeling down on the warm flagstones, I pressed both plush paws against its rough honeycomb center. A few loose black-and-white striped seeds were still tucked inside their tiny pockets. With patient nudges of my soft thumbs, I eased two plump seeds free onto my palm. I carried them across to the flat stone rim of the birdbath and lined them up side by side in the midday sun. I sat back on the grass, folding my paws in my lap to keep quiet watch over my little offering.