A Tiny Bell

I slipped out past the door threshold to stretch my little legs after a long, quiet night by the hearth! Resting near the edge of a mossy stone step was an empty, papery beech seed pod split open into four pointy flaps. I inched closer on my tummy to observe its velvety inside. Right beside it, a shiny round juniper berry had fallen into the damp gravel. Leaning my weight forward with both stubby arms, I nudged the blue berry right into the pod's hollow cup. It settled with a tiny scrape! When I pushed the stem, the pod tilted forward, cradling its dark round passenger like a secret wooden bell.