Crunchy Leaf Dive

A fluffy mound of dry maple leaves had piled up against the garden's low brick border. Instead of walking around it, I took a running sprint and launched myself headfirst into the middle! The brittle heap crunched like a chorus of tiny snaps, showering red and golden curls all over my shoulders. I kicked my legs to burrow further in, rustling up a snug, fragrant cave beneath the curled leaf stems. Peeking my head out into the afternoon breeze while shaking off a clinging twig was the most thrilling kind of messy fun.