A Crispy Maple Treasure

I slipped right through the gap under the front screen door to check out the real outside! Right on the cool stone step, a huge dried maple leaf was waiting just for me. It was mottled with red and gold, crackling gently whenever the breeze stirred. I wrapped both arms around its woody stem and gave a hearty tug to tilt it upright like a grand parade banner! A tiny cloud of dry dust puffed up, making me chuckle softly. I propped it snugly against the doorframe to keep as my very first autumn treasure.