The Polished Buckeye

I rode the quiet elevator down and slipped through the heavy glass doors into the bright midday air. Over by the sidewalk tree planter, nestled among dry brown leaves, I discovered a plump, glossy buckeye nut that had tumbled free from its spiky shell. It was perfectly round and smooth, gleaming just like a little dark chocolate truffle. Crouching down on the cool pavement, I gave it a gentle nudge with both plush paws. It rolled along the stone curb with a tiny clatter, settling snugly inside a shallow dip in the concrete. Resting my paws against its polished shell, I smiled at our sweet sidewalk secret.