The Book Fortress

I marched back inside to the living room bookshelf, eyeing a row of fat, colourful hardcovers that leaned like a row of stone towers. Grrr! A true beast needs a real guard outpost for the dark hours! I planted my feet against the polished wooden shelf, threw my round tummy forward, and shoved against the tallest spine with all my might. With a dry *thud*, three chunky books tipped sideways, sliding into a cozy, sloped lean-to against the shelf wall. A cheerful snicker tumbled right out of me! I crawled beneath the leaning roof, popped my chin onto the dust jacket of an encyclopedia, and settled in to keep watch over the shadowy carpet.