The Spinning Seed

I slipped through the heavy lobby doors and shuffled across the courtyard flagstones until I found a dry, winged maple seed resting near the garden curb. Wondering if it would fly, I carried the papery wing up the three low terrace steps, taking each stone rise one patient climb at a time. At the top edge, I set the seed flat and gave it a gradual, steady nudge forward. It tilted over the granite lip and caught the air, twirling in a quiet spiral before settling softly onto the pavers below. Sitting down against the garden wall, I kept my eyes on where it landed, already planning another turn.