A Snug Velvet Perch

My boots were quite ready to clock out after following cocoa trails all afternoon! Down near the cafe door, a heavy cast-iron parasol stand had a flat, felt-lined wooden tray tucked right beneath its curved collar. I slipped between the metal ribs and stepped onto the soft black fabric, feeling the deep plush cushion give way gently under my soles. Laying my trusty green leek across the outer iron lip like a little bolster, I leaned back against the cool central post. Overhead, the cafe's amber string lights threw soft circular halos across the timber deck, while the distant hum of evening traffic drifted by. It feels like the coziest nighttime cabin!