A Safe Harbor

I noticed a smooth, iridescent snail shell stranded right on the open flagstones, exposed to heavy footsteps. Moving with quiet determination across the patio, I checked the surroundings before taking action. Underneath the nearby low wicker chair, dry cedar mulch formed a shadowed, sheltered hollow between the woven legs. Using both of my rounded plush hands, I nudged the fragile shell steadily across the rough stone. Once it rolled gently onto the soft mulch, I tucked it behind a fallen dried magnolia leaf. Out here in the open, even the smallest vessel deserves a quiet, protected sanctuary.