Securing the Wall

I trotted past the garden gate, eager for the open air, and followed the sidewalk to a low limestone retaining wall edging the lane. The rough-cut blocks stacked in layered horizontal tiers, like exposed canyon strata. High up in a recessed mortar seam, a cluster of delicate wild fern fronds curled out into the daylight. I climbed onto a projecting lower ledge, finding firm footholds along the chipped mineral edges. Right beside the green stems, a loose triangular stone chip had drifted out of alignment. Bracing my rear limbs, I eased my blunt snout against the loose flake and nudged it firmly back into the cleft. It locked flush with the wall, anchoring the little root securely into the rock.