A Shiny Ripple

I scrambled quietly down the back porch steps, keeping my belly close to the warm wooden deck boards so nothing tall could see me. Right beside a big terra-cotta flowerpot sat a low ceramic dish full of clear water. I tiptoed up and reached my soft plush flipper out to tap the surface. A little water droplet splashed up onto my nose—it made me jump backward with a tiny squeak! But when no scary bin appeared, I peeked over the smooth rim. The cool water caught the morning light, making bright dancing circles on the wood, and dipping just my front toes in felt wonderfully refreshing.