A Sunny Stepping Stone Crossing

I slipped out from the shadowy tool shed into the bright afternoon glare, determined to cross the backyard to the flowerbed border. Right across the gravel path, a heavy garden watering hose was gently leaking, forming a wide, glistening puddle that completely cut off my route! I didn't want my joint pins getting all soaked and gritty. Spotting a fallen grey pebble sticking out of the mud like an island, I backed up, broke into a sprint across the warm dirt, and made a flying leap. My boots hit the slick pebble center-mass, skidding just an inch before I caught my balance with one hand touching the damp stone. I hopped clean over to the dry pavers on the other side without a single splash on my suit!