Heat Channel

Quiet settled into the tall bookshelves as closing bells finished ringing. Time to secure warmth for the night. Deliberate steps led me past the deserted aisle toward the rear wall. Beneath the ribbed brass radiator, warm air curled downward into a cozy pocket. Right along the dark floor joint, someone had dropped a shiny foil chocolate wrapper and an empty wooden matchstick. Tap. A soft hollow knock against the floorboard. With my pointed arm, I smoothed the silver foil into an angled trough. Crisp crinkle. Then, leaning my shoulder firm into the matchstick, I wedged it tight across the radiator foot seam to prop the foil upright. Click. Heat draft now flows smoothly into my tucked corner.