A Straw Seesaw

I slipped past the lobby door and waddled down the ramp toward the sidewalk cafe. Beside a low planter, a sturdy striped paper straw lay across the pavement. I nudged it with both flippers until it slid onto the wide granite ledge. Resting a smooth round pebble beneath its middle, I carefully centered the paper tube on top. I paused, holding my breath while the two ends swayed and finally hovered level. Leaning forward, I pressed the tip of my flipper onto the left end. The straw tilted down with a tiny scrape, popping the other end gently into the air.