A Small Anchor

I pushed past the front gate and walked down to the quiet corner by the brick wall. A dry, golden leaf had caught in a seam between two stones, its edges fluttering in the draft. I paused and tilted my head. Nearby rested an empty metal bottle cap, turned upside down. Crouching down, I guided the smooth rim with both paws until it pressed firmly over the leaf stem. It gave a faint, raspy scrape against the brick. Now the breeze swept past without shaking it loose.