A Slanted Shadow

A warm bar of morning sun crept toward the tall wicker hamper in the hallway corner. I walked over, padding softly across the cool wooden floorboards. The weave of the basket had tiny gaps, casting a lattice of pale shadows along the baseboard. I slid into the narrow space between the basket and the wall, turning sideways to fit. Inside the shade, the air felt still and slightly cooler. With one paw resting against the dry, rough cane of the basket, I sat down and watched a speck of dust drift slowly across the golden stripe on the floor.