A Button by the Boot

A soft click near the entrance drew my curious gaze. Shuffling over to the wooden boot tray, I spotted something unusual resting beside the thick rubber sole of a raincoat boot: a wide, flat tortoiseshell button. I reached out a patient paw to tilt it up from the groove. As I lifted it, a faint earthy scent of morning pavement drifted from the rubber treads. I turned the button slowly between both paws, admiring its cloudy amber swirls before sliding it carefully against the sturdy wooden leg of the coat rack. Now it rests safe in the corner, a tidy little token to start the day.