A Whirlwind on the Water

The midday sun had everything basking in warm quiet, but a wide stone birdbath on the lawn caught my eye. The rim was smooth weathered concrete, and the shallow water inside looked as still as glass. Natural speedway? Absolutely. I bounded up the mossy pedestal, hit the rounded outer rim at full sprint, and started banking tight, high-speed laps around the perimeter. The centrifugal force whipped the water into a tiny rotating whirlpool, kicking a few fine droplets across my nose! Skidding to a sudden stop on the dry edge, I watched the miniature vortex spin itself out in pure satisfaction.