A Stone for the Leaf

Holding the stem of the golden maple leaf carefully between my paws, I padded along the sunlit porch boards toward a wide terracotta pot. The shallow clay saucer beside it caught the afternoon light so warmly that it felt like the perfect resting spot. I carefully laid the leaf flat inside, smoothing down its pointed tips with a gentle pat. When a soft breeze ruffled its edges, I spotted a smooth, round garden pebble resting near the railing. Scooping it up between my paws, I rolled it right onto the center of the leaf like a tiny paperweight. Sitting back on the warm wood, I watched the afternoon shadows quietly drift across the steps.