A Bold Patrol by the Door

Too many days indoors watching the drizzle from high shelves—it was time to push toward the frontier! I marched down the long floorboards to the great front door. Right beside the threshold stood a tall ceramic jar bristling with black umbrellas like a forest of spears. A plastic yellow tag had snagged around the cane curve of the smallest umbrella handle, dangling upside down. Not on my watch! I bounded onto the wooden base of the stand, braced my feet against the glazed rim, and yanked the tag free with a triumphant tug. The path to the world outside stands clear and ready!