Casting Tall Shadows

A warm amber fan of light spilled across the baseboard from the little plug-in nightlight near the floor. Standing right on the edge of the glow was an open tortoiseshell hair clip with filigree cutout wings. I dropped to my knees, slid the clip an inch closer to the bulb, and propped it upright on its curved teeth. Instantly, an intricate, giant lattice pattern leaped across the wall like a grand palace gate! I stepped straight into the beam, threw both hands overhead in a high arch, and swayed my shoulders to watch my shadowy twin dance across the glowing wall until my feet finally grew heavy and ready for sleep.