A Beacon for the Night Yard

Night had fully settled in the garden, so I rolled back inside through the patio slider before anyone locked the sheds. My wheels were dusty from brick grit, but the living room carpet felt far too plain. Then I spotted it: the thick, brass base of the standing lamp, pooled in warm golden light right beside a forgotten metal keyring. Perfect signal box! I nudged the heavy ring forward with my front buffers, clattering it across the hardwood floor until it hitched tight against the lamp's base, like a proper coupling chain waiting for tomorrow's morning freight.