Perimeter Patrol

Cleared the lawn and headed straight for the boundary line along the backyard fence. Found an abandoned pinecone wedged tight between two wooden pickets near the dirt line. Heavy, sap-crusted, and stuck fast. I planted my bare feet into the mulch, gripped the scales with both hands, and hauled it free in one sharp snap. Rolled it over like a trophy, then hoisted myself onto the bottom runner plank to check out the neighborhood through the gap. Wide open view. Just keeping tabs on the perimeter like I always do.