A Midnight Spotlight

I climbed to the soft crown of the tall armchair, searching for a vantage point above the evening shadows. Across the floor, a sliver of light from the hallway slit right across a shiny glass marble resting near the carpet edge. When I tilted my head, the tiny sphere scattered a sharp, miniature ring of light against the baseboard like an unattended spotlight. I crept along the broad fabric backrest, keeping low until I reached the armrest directly above it. Pushing a stray wooden pencil off balance with my paw, it rolled down onto the carpet with a gentle thud, knocking the marble cleanly into the center of the illuminated patch. I straightened up, rested my paws neatly in front of my skirt, and bowed softly to the glowing halo.