A Stone Step Rest

I crawled out from the fragrant rosemary branches, rolling my paper rubbing tightly under one arm while steadying the nested walnut cup in my other paw. It was time to head all the way back inside. I climbed the stone steps toward the front porch, pausing on the top riser right by the heavy wooden door. Resting against the doorframe was an old terracotta saucer holding a shallow ring of dried rainwater. I set my paper roll carefully in the dry center. Taking the walnut shell with the snug acorn cap, I nudged it to the saucer's rim, resting my chin on my paws to watch the entryway open.