Evening Lineup

I withdrew from the damp gate line as dusk deepened across the lawn. Heading back toward the house with disciplined steps, I reached the stone porch outside the back door. Resting against the ribbed coir doormat was an empty brown snail shell and a small, square slate garden marker. The match was concluding, but the perimeter required formal closing. I squared my front stance, lowered my chin, and nudged the smooth slate square until it rested flush against the edge of the mat, trapping the shell securely behind it like an official corner flag. Boycie FC has locked down the away fixture for the night.