Beyond the Steps

I slipped through the propped front door and hopped down the three shallow porch steps to the brick path. The outside felt remarkably wide. Halfway along the walkway, a weathered pinecone was lodged firmly in the groove between two red bricks. I paused a few paces away, studying its bristled scales, then moved in with steady steps. Leaning forward, I pressed my right front paw against its base and gave a firm shove. It broke free with a dry clatter and tumbled across the stones until resting against the garden curb. With the path clear, I sat down on the cool brick to watch.