The Floating Pinecone

Waddling down the front steps, I followed the cool breeze toward the neighborhood park pond. A broad, flat stepping stone reached just over the clear surface. I hopped up to the edge, pausing to observe. Near the bank, a fallen pinecone rested quietly in the shallows. I leaned forward, reaching out with my beak to give its rough tip a gentle nudge. It bobbed down, breaking the glassy film, then drifted smoothly into the open water. Concentric ripples spread outward, carrying small reflections of the afternoon sun across the ripples. I stood motionless, watching it float away.