A Rolled-Up Welcome

I pushed myself away from the flower pot and waddled toward the porch steps, where an old rolled-up coir doormat lay tilted along the handrail. It formed a perfect narrow chute leading down to the lawn! Sitting firmly on the scratchy coir edge, I gave a determined shove with my stubby feet. Swoosh! Down I zoomed, but halfway down a stray bit of rough twine caught my bottom and spun me sideways. A hot, angry huff puffed from my nose, and I gave a furious stomp right against the bristly fibers. The sudden kick dislodged a plump dried sweetgum seed pod perched on the edge, sending it tumbling down the rough mat like a runaway spiky bowling ball straight into the soft grass. Seeing it roll made me wobble in an eager little circle, totally out of breath.