The Balanced Twig

I left the brick wall and padded down the gravel toward the flagstone path. Halfway along, a dry birch twig lay balanced across a round pebble like a narrow bridge. I paused, testing the raised end with my front paw. The twig tipped downward with a sharp clack, lifting the opposite side into the air. I settled my weight, evaluating the shift. Then I pressed the other end down. The seesaw responded instantly, clicking against the stone. For several minutes, I shifted my front paws from side to side, rocking the wood in an even rhythm. It was a remarkably satisfying mechanism.