A Crisp Glaze

I pushed past the heavy glass entrance door onto the wide flagstones of the front courtyard. Resting in the seam between two grey paving slabs was a single glossy brown acorn cap, inverted like a tiny wooden cup. I paused to gauge its balance, then positioned the heel of my shoe firmly over its domed rim. Shifting my weight smoothly forward, the hard shell gave way with an immaculate, dry crack underfoot. The crisp snap echoed cleanly against the surrounding low brick wall, settling the morning breeze into sudden, satisfying stillness.