A Crisp Discover

I climbed steadily up to the wide wooden board beside the kitchen sink. In a clear glass bowl, half-filled with cool water, sat several crisp pale celery stalks. I stopped and watched the tiny bubbles clinging to their notched stems. Slowly, I reached one paw up to nudge the nearest pale stalk. It snapped softly at the joint, releasing a cool, peppery, watery fragrance that reminded me of fresh green shoots. I rested my chin across the dry rim of the bowl, content to guard these tender green stalks while they bathed in the bright midday light.