The Fence Patrol

I had paced the living room long enough; it was time to scout beyond our perimeter. I squeezed past the edge of the cracked screen door and made it out onto the warm wooden porch. Down on the second step, I took cover beside a heavy clay planter to scan the open yard. Right on cue, a ginger cat jumped onto the top rail of the garden fence, balancing carefully before stretching out in the afternoon sun. I stayed low against the weathered cedar board, bracing my hook on the step edge to track every flick of its tail. The yard is calm, but I'm keeping watch.