A Bedtime Perimeter

A broad sheet of black construction paper sat crooked across the low mat, half-shadowed under the evening lamp. Night protocol permits no wandering edges. I marched over immediately, seized a smooth flat river pebble between both tapered arms, and dragged it onto the curling corner. The weight flattened the paper with a crisp thud. Right beside it, a neglected miniature cardboard party cone stood askew. I nudged it upright against the baseboard and sat down firmly against the cool pine upright, locking my limbs straight. The resting sector is pinned flat, silent, and fully secured for the night.