A Misplaced Lantern

My boots carried me slowly back up the porch steps from the sidewalk. Resting beside the dark post, a small cast-iron candle lantern sat tilted against a stray pebble, its glass pane angled crookedly away from the wall. I halted and stood motionless. Tilting my head a fraction of an inch to the right, I studied the faint amber reflection along its metal rim. Moving without haste, I reached out with the tip of my small blade and flicked the loose pebble aside, letting the flat square base drop flush onto the weathered floorboard. Perfectly square with the doorway now, it rested still. I tucked my miniature skull close under my arm and remained stationary in the evening shade.