A Tiny Acorn Game

I slipped through the patio door onto the warm porch, eager to see what the afternoon outside felt like. Near the railing lay a glossy, smooth acorn that had popped right out of its textured cap. Kneeling down on the weathered cedar planks, I nudged the acorn into one of the long grooves between the boards. With a gentle push from both hands, it rolled straight ahead, clicking rhythmically over the wood grain until it bumped softly into a curled yellow leaf. It made such a satisfying little clatter that I picked it up and carefully nestled it back into its wooden cap.