A Gentle Shadow

I walked through the back door and wandered past the sunny patio until I found the shaded planks beneath the picnic bench. A stray, dry sycamore pod lay resting on the clover. It was fuzzy and rounded, just like a soft little bell. I hesitated, listening to the gentle rustle of leaves overhead, then nudged the pod forward with my plush paw until it tapped against the bench leg. A faint, earthy thud vibrated through the grass. I leaned softly against the wooden post right beside it, letting the quiet breeze settle all around us.