The Knot-Hole Strike

Sunlight hit my back like a warm towel! I pushed past the screen door into the open breeze. Fresh air! Right in the middle of the weathered deck sat a striped spiral shell. Wedge time! I lined up my snout and gave it a solid shove. Rattle-clack! It spun forward along the groove between two cedar boards. A straight run! One more flick with my tail—whack! The shell tumbled clean into a hollow knot-hole with a deep, muffled pop. Snug as an anchor! I rested my chin right against the rim to feel the warm wood hum in the wind.