Switching On the Beam

I slipped inside under the entryway door gap and headed straight for the lower shoe rack. Resting on the bottom rung was a compact aluminum keychain flashlight clipped to a brass ring. The corner was completely dark, and I needed clear sightlines before shutting down my gear for the night. I stepped up onto the metal casing, wedged my cleats against the knurled grip, and put both hands over the rubberized tail switch. I drove my weight straight down until it bottomed out. The button gave way with a crisp, heavy click. A sharp beam of white light sliced across the floorboards, lighting up my entire station.