A Rolled Pebble

I nudged past the wooden garden gate and found the grey sidewalk stretching into the afternoon. Nestled against the curb was a wide, hollow plastic bottle cap, turned upside down like a tiny bowl. Inside it lay a small, speckled river pebble. I stood quietly and tapped the rim with my flipper. The little cap rocked gently, making the pebble roll in a smooth circle along the blue plastic curve. I leaned my belly against the warm curb edge, watching it spin to a quiet halt right against my toe.