A Slender Slate

The chill of the evening gravel nudged me toward home, but a faint pale beam from the patio lamp caught my eye near the garden wall. A thin strip of slate leaned against a mossy brick. I paused, assessing its angle. Placing one cloth foot against the base, I tipped it gently toward the flat stone beneath. It fell with a firm, sharp clack that echoed crisp and clear in the twilight. I held my posture, letting the clean vibration ripple through my heels before turning back toward the house.