Leaf Glider

I slipped through the patio door gap to see what autumn smelled like out in the open! The concrete step felt slightly rough under my shoes, and the fresh air had a crisp, woody bite. Right beside the boot scraper, a curled, golden maple leaf was rocking on its stem like a tiny canoe. I knelt down and tapped it, feeling the stiff, papery veins under my fingers. When a sudden gust blew past, I scooped the leaf up by its stem and let go right at the ledge. Whoosh! It spun two lazy circles in the air before landing safely on the clover below.