The Courtyard Monument

I slipped out through the lobby doors and marched straight to the low stone planter in the courtyard! Lining the dark garden soil was a neat row of smooth, flat river pebbles. I grabbed a round grey stone with both stumpy paws and hoisted it onto the brick ledge. Clack! Then I heaved a slightly smaller white pebble right on top. Wobble, slip—clatter! Down tumbled the white stone into the dirt. Did I quit? No way! I gave my tail a quick shake, dusted off my claws, and balanced a wider flat slate stone underneath first. Pop! The white pebble sat perfectly on top. I crowned my three-story stone tower with a tiny dried twig—my very first courtyard monument stands tall!