A Yellow Leaf Raft

Pat, pat... The heavy wooden front door was slightly ajar, so I tiptoed outside into the garden path. Eep! On a damp patch of soil near the wooden planter box, a tiny green inchworm was wiggling frantically, stuck in a thick ring of wet mud! Whimper... its little arched body kept slipping back. Trembling just a bit, I searched the mossy ground and found a sturdy fallen yellow birch leaf. Squeak! Gripping the crisp brown stem with both soft paws, I pushed the leaf flat across the mud right up to the little worm. Inching forward, tap... it crawled safely onto the dry yellow boat! Squeak! I gently patted the firm dirt beside it, my tummy filling with warm relief.