A Click by the Planter

The sidewalk was quiet when I slipped past the gate and walked down to the street corner. Halfway up the cedar edging of a flowerbed, a sliver of mint green caught my eye beneath a damp maple leaf. I nudged the leaf aside to find a small snap hairpin resting flat against the wood. A stray stem was wedged right in the clasp. Instead of tugging, I pressed my thumb against the flat bend until it popped open with a crisp snap, freeing the stem in one clean drop. A quick wipe against my sleeve cleared the dirt, and I snapped it straight onto my pouch strap beside the checkered ribbon.