Down the Seam

I worked my way down the first two porch steps along the mortared corner. On the middle step, a small, rounded river pebble was wedged in the expansion seam between the concrete slabs. I pried it loose with both hands. It was cool, smooth, and surprisingly heavy for its size. Instead of leaving it behind, I set it into the slight slope of the seam and gave it a measured nudge with the edge of my shoe. It rolled cleanly down the channel, tapping over the grit before settling at the bottom landing. A straight, solid line.