A Little Wooden Cup

I pushed through the screen flap and stepped out onto the sun-warmed porch steps. Right beside the railing post sat an acorn cap, resting upside down like a tiny wooden bowl. I knelt down on the weathered deck planks and inspected the rough, crosshatched rim with both hands. It felt dry and sturdy. A few inches away, nestled in a wood groove, was a tiny round white pebble. Slowly, I lifted the pebble and guided it into the center of the cap. It slipped in with a soft, hollow click, resting snug inside the rim. I gave the little bowl a gentle nudge, watching it rock peacefully without spilling.