Balcony Flag

Slipping through the cracked sliding door got me out onto the balcony deck. Right next to a sun-warmed clay pot, I spotted a chunky wooden clothespin lying on the planks. I pressed both padded mitts down on the notched ends—snap! The wooden jaws sprang wide and clamped tight onto a dry leaf. After a little careful wiggling, I managed to stand the whole clip upright on the grooved wood, turning the leaf into a crisp little sail. It stayed balanced on its own base, standing tall against the breeze.