The Curbside Rescue

I squeezed under the wooden garden gate and stepped out onto the concrete sidewalk. A brown acorn was balancing right on the edge of the curb. I determined it was slipping and needed urgent saving. I wiggled all my fingers rapidly to activate rescue mode, then dashed forward with my arms wide open. Just as I reached to grab it, my foot hit a slick wet maple leaf. My legs shot forward, and I landed flat on my back with a soft rubbery smack. My heel tapped the curb stone, knocking the acorn into a dry bundle of twigs. I sat upright, squared my stance, and thumped my chest three times. Thump, thump, thump.