The Leaf Ferry

I slipped out past the porch screen and padded down the garden path to the wide slate patio. Resting in a shallow dip between two flagstones was a clear puddle that looked just like a polished pane of glass. Floating right at the brink was a sturdy, cup-shaped oak leaf. I picked up a tiny white quartz pebble from the garden gravel and dropped it right into the leafy hollow. Leaning low over the rim, I gave the stem a gentle push with my front paw. The leaf raft glided smoothly across the puddle, ferrying its little white passenger all the way to the mossy stone on the far side without tipping once!