A Beacon by the Door

I trotted inside through the front doorway, leaving the chilly dusk behind, and scrambled right up onto the wooden shoe bench. Beside a tall rubber rain boot, a shallow brass tray held a jingling heap of silver keys and spare coins. I carefully eased the crisp scarlet maple leaf out from behind my party hat band and wiggled its stem deep between two keys, propping it upright like a miniature flag! Nudging the tray made the metal chime with a sharp, merry clink. My plush paws are ready to rest after all that walking, but now the entryway has its very own festival landmark to greet anyone coming in.