A Leafy Sundial

I carried my little spiral snail shell deeper into the garden, ducking beneath the big ruffled leaves of a hydrangea bush. Right on a flat, dry slate rock, bright noontime sun peeked through the leafy canopy in a sharp circle of light. I placed the shell right in the middle of the warm beam and watched its swirly shadow stretch across the grey stone. To test a thought, I nudged a tiny dry twig right against the tip of the shadow. Seeing my little shell act like a mini garden clock made my feet give a quiet, happy shuffle.