A Corner for the Night

Night had settled across the far sidewalk... making further travel unwise. I moved close to the brick wall bordering the pavement, looking for a windbreak. In the gravel recess beneath an iron drainpipe elbow, I found an empty, dry matchbox sleeve made of stiff card. I knelt down, testing the cardboard with both palms. It was intact and rigid. Working carefully, I wedged the box flush against the damp brick corner, securing its outer base with three rounded sidewalk pebbles. I slid inside, resting my back against the sturdy paper inner wall while observing the quiet street.