Night Leaf Rustle

Outside into nature! I squeezed through the cracked porch door and tumbled right onto the cool stone patio! Gasp! The night air was crisp and smelled like damp soil. Right beside a stone planter sat a pile of curled brown autumn leaves. I scampered over and gave the crisp heap a vigorous kick—*crunch-crackle!* Then I raised my mallet and tapped on a hollow terracotta pot—*pock-pock!* A dry, earthy rattle answered back. Every step made the crunchy leaves snap under my toes, like popping tiny nature bubbles under the dark open sky!