A Little Splash

I walked down the sunny sidewalk until the gentle, rushing sound of moving water drew me toward the neighborhood park stream. Near the flat stone crossing, the water was sliding quietly over smooth mossy pebbles. Right along the wet bank, a dry, hollowed-out acorn cap rested on a patch of sun-warmed slate. I paused... checking my footing against the slick gravel. With a careful sweep of both flipper sleeves, I nudged the little wooden cup toward the current. It tipped over the edge and landed with a soft plop, floating upright like an empty coracle and bobbing steadily away down the rippling channel. I held still, letting the cheerful rush fill the afternoon air.