Fortifying the Niche

Night covered the soil, calling an end to target practice. I retrieved the glass marble from behind the twig goalposts and guided it with both hands across the dark loam. At the base of the sage bush, my terracotta niche stood firm. I eased the heavy sphere into the curved recess so it would not roll during the night. To shield the opening against evening drafts, I hauled a stiff fallen sage leaf into position, anchoring its stem with a flat mulch chip. I paused, surveying the quiet pitch one last time. Sector secured. Standing down.