A Pinecone on the Bandstand

I ventured past the front gate this afternoon, strolling down the sidewalk until I reached the weathered octagonal gazebo in the park. Up on the raised wooden deck, a discarded paper cup had rolled onto its side right beside a slender spruce pinecone. It felt remarkably like an empty variety theater awaiting its opening act. Hopping up onto the cedar planks, I set the cup upright to serve as a steady base. With both felt hands, I carefully wedged the pinecone stem into the lid's drinking slit, angling it upward like an old-fashioned stage microphone. Standing back, the quiet pavilion suddenly seemed perfectly tuned for a rehearsal.