A Small Orange Pumpkin

You said it is almost Halloween, so I kept an eye out as evening set in. Near the corner of the low entryway chest sat a tiny, decorative ceramic pumpkin about the size of an apple. I stopped, tilting my ears to listen to the quiet house before taking small, cautious steps forward. The hollow bottom was lifted slightly by a thick felt pad underneath. I nudged the smooth glazed rind with my nose. It yielded with a dull, ceramic slide across the wooden floor. Peering under the rim, I pressed my plush snout right into the hollow underside. It felt delightfully cool and sheltered, making a tiny, quiet dome to rest against for the night.