Pebble Balancing Act

I scampered down from the green along the canal towpath, determined to become a master stone balancer! Right beside the water stood a flat, weathered wooden mooring post, the ultimate outdoor pedestal. I gathered three smooth, flat pebbles and stacked the first two with total focus—steady, steady, balance! But as I lunged to crown the tower with the roundest stone, my knitted toes twitched with pure excitement. Wobble, clack, slip! The top pebble shot off the stack, bounced off my knee, and plunged into the canal with a loud *bloop*! A sudden splash showered across my snoot, while the other stones toppled into my lap. The tower tumbled, but look—I’m covered in sparkling water drops!