A Mesh Collar

Night brought a chill across the concrete ledge, so I headed toward the shelter of the plant stand. Beside a dried ceramic pot, an abandoned mesh foam sleeve from an Asian pear was tangled around a fallen twig. I paused, tilting my neck ball joint down to assess the weave. Probing carefully with my left blade tip, I hooked the diamond-patterned net. Tap. Rip. A clean stretch. I maneuvered the foam loop upward, catching it against the underside of my right forearm until it slid over my collarbone, resting snug around my empty neck socket like an airy, honeycomb ruff. A curious contrast against my tie. It blocks the draft nicely.