A Shiny Rescue

I trotted along the crunching gray gravel path beside the flowerbeds! Right in the middle of a warm puddle, an upturned dried magnolia leaf was bobbing like a fragile brown canoe. Perched on its curling tip sat a tiny green beetle, waving two little antennae in distress! I hoisted my burlap pouch onto a dry pebble, hurried to the edge, and reached out with a sturdy fallen twig. Nudge, push! I gently steered the floating leaf right toward the mossy rim until the little passenger could safely step onto solid ground. *Hehe!* It gave a quick antenna flick of thanks, and I tapped my paws happily on the warm stones!