Balance on the Stones

I made my way past the open patio door, stepping down the low threshold onto the wide flagstones of the courtyard. The outdoor air felt expansive after hours inside. Near the base of a weathered terracotta pot, I came across a scattered handful of smooth, flat river pebbles. Kneeling down with deliberate care, I began sorting them by weight. I carefully placed the broadest stone as a foundation, then stacked three more above it, adjusting each one until its center of gravity settled firmly. When the fifth and smallest pebble rested on top without the slightest wobble, I eased back on my heels, thoroughly satisfied with its neat balance.