A Little Papery Wing

A pair of dried, winged maple seeds lay hooked together on the warm flagstone just past the porch step. I paused, tilting my chin to survey the quiet bushes ahead, then took three cautious shuffles forward. The seeds looked like delicate little fans. Leaning down, I gave the papery curved blade a gentle nudge with my pink snout. It didn't drag—it spun around in a crisp, whispering circle! Delighted by how smoothly it danced on its rounded pod, I tapped it once more, sending it twirling over the stone grooves until it nestled softly against a patch of green moss.