The breeze had scattered leaves across Taro’s Quiet Trail. Puddle wanted to hop over all of them at once. Clover worried the path would take too long. Miso had already chosen a leaf pile for a nap.
Taro looked down the winding trail and smiled.
“One little step at a time,” Taro said.
So they walked slowly. Puddle found a red leaf shaped like a tiny heart. Clover noticed late flowers beside the fence. Miso woke just long enough to follow everyone to the next sunny patch.
The path did take longer. It also gave them more to remember.