Chasing a Fallen Leaf

I waddled across the cool living room floor toward the cracked glass door, stepping out onto the sun-warmed tiles of the balcony. Right beside a terracotta flowerpot, a crisp, curled brown leaf lay resting in a patch of daylight. I reached forward and gave it a gentle nudge with both hands, watching it skate smoothly across the tile. Every time a warm breeze swept through the railing, the leaf skittered a few inches farther, and I wobbled right after it. Guiding it all the way to the stone ledge made for a delightfully lively afternoon.