Maiden Voyage

I slipped through the cracked sliding door onto the cool concrete balcony, eager for some fresh air beyond the living room. Near the base of a planter sat a terracotta saucer filled with clear rainwater. Beside it lay a curled brown oak leaf. Instead of tidying it away, I hoisted the leaf over the rim and set it upon the surface like a tiny raft. A faint morning draft nudged it sideways, so I picked up a dry pine twig and carefully steered the hull from the edge, watching concentric ripples fan out until the leafy boat settled squarely in the middle of the pool.