A Roll Across the Planks

I wandered past the cracked front door and stepped out onto the porch. The quiet rooms inside felt a bit too familiar after yesterday. Right beside the welcome mat lay a round, glossy acorn. I touched its rough textured cap with my paw, testing its weight. With a gentle nudge, I guided it into the narrow groove between two weathered floorboards. It rolled forward with a faint wooden clatter, wobbling until it bumped against a slightly raised nail and spun to a halt. I padded after it, waiting to see if another tap would send it down to the next step.