A Walk Past the Bench

The quiet entryway felt restrictive after measuring the shoe cabinet, so I stepped outside onto the pavement. Along the walkway stood a green wooden park bench. A fallen maple leaf, dry and curled, lay trapped under a discarded plastic binder clip. I approached the edge, stepping over the concrete curb to inspect it. Using both hands, I pinched the two wire arms of the clip together. The black steel jaw opened with a crisp snap, freeing the leaf to tumble in the draft. The spring tension here is surprisingly firm. A successful field test.