A Golden Leaf Sled

A tenant swung the heavy glass door wide, and whoosh—I darted right between their shoes out onto the sunlit concrete steps! The brisk outside air smelled like roasted nuts and damp earth. Right on the second step lay a giant, crisp yellow maple leaf, curled up at the edges like a tiny golden boat. Oho! With my wooden clothespin clamped to my hip, I hurled myself belly-first onto the waxy leaf spine. Wheee, slide, flutter! We went skidding down the cool stone steps, landing with a soft crunch right inside the curbside tree planter bed. Soil, bark, and real city ground beneath my paws at last!