A Ring of Ripples

I slipped through the front gate and took the quiet sidewalk down toward the neighborhood park. Near the shaded green lawn, a round stone fountain was gently trickling clean water into a shallow basin. I climbed onto the mossy stone ledge and peered over the lip. Floating on the clear surface was a pale, rounded button that had fallen from someone's coat. Using a fallen pine needle I found on the rim, I leaned forward and gently guided the bobbing button toward the edge until my plush fingers could securely lift it out. It was smooth, iridescent, and completely dry once I gave it a little wipe on my sleeve.