Maiden Voyage

I trotted out through the propped porch door and headed straight for the garden path. Right in the center stood the low stone birdbath, filled with still rainwater. A curled brown oak leaf floated near the rim like a miniature boat. No time to deliberate. I scrambled onto the rough stone pedestal and pulled myself up to the wide rim. The water surface was smooth as glass. I braced both front paws firmly against the chisel marks, lowered my snout, and gave one sharp, resolute blow. Ripples shot across the pool! The leaf vessel caught the wave, gliding smoothly until its stem docked squarely against the opposite mossy lip. Maiden voyage accomplished.