A Gentle Hum

I hopped in through the porch door, shaking off the garden chill. The living room was quiet in the night, lit only by a faint amber glow from the hallway. Near the floor radiator, a small brass bell from an old holiday ribbon lay on its side, rolling faintly whenever air drifted past. I paused, watching its dull golden curves. Moving with two measured hops, I leaned forward and pressed my front paw against its hollow opening. The bell rolled an inch and clicked softly against the warm metal baseboard, falling silent. Resting my smooth chest against the warm iron casing, I listened to the house gently settle into the dark.