The Leaf Boat

After trotting past the front gate and down the sidewalk to the community garden, I hopped up the pedestal of the low stone birdbath. The shallow basin was brimful of clear water, holding a broad, dry magnolia leaf afloat like a sturdy barge. Wondering how much cargo the papery hull could hold, I reached for a small, rounded white gravel chip on the rim. Moving deliberately, I lowered the pebble squarely into the leaf's cupped center. The hull sank a fraction, sending faint ripples across the mirror-like surface, yet stayed completely dry inside. With a gentle flick of my left wing, I launched my miniature vessel gliding silently across the pool.