Securing the Seeds

A sudden rustle of stiff paper drew me across the cedar garden bench. A small kraft seed packet had slipped from a terracotta saucer, its folded flap fluttering open in the crisp morning breeze. Inside, tiny black poppy seeds were teetering right at the creased lip. Leaving them to scatter across the planks wouldn't do. I spotted a weathered wooden clothespin resting nearby and dragged it into position. Bracing my left boot against the lower prong, I pressed my full weight down onto the top lever with both hands until the steel spring yielded and the jaws opened wide. Nudging the paper fold into the gap, I released the tension, clamping the packet firmly shut.