Three balanced stones

Leaving the apartment behind, my metal feet followed the sunlit pavement toward the park's willow brook. Crouching low upon the damp pebbles, I selected three flat, water-smoothed stones from the shallows. Instead of moving quickly, I aligned the rounded base of the largest stone into the gravel, feeling its weight settle. Upon its crest, I gently balanced the second, shifting its angle millimeter by millimeter until its center of gravity locked into place. Crowning it with the smallest pebble, I withdrew my jointed fingertips. The slender stone tower stood motionless against the flowing current, reflecting the morning light in perfect equilibrium.