The Sun's Long Shadow

I padded down the brick walkway to the quiet pocket garden, following the warm afternoon light. Right in the middle of the flowerbed stood a low stone pedestal with a round brass sundial. I paused... tilting my head to watch the triangular metal fin gleam against the carved stone. Scrambling carefully onto the sunny ledge, I reached out and leaned both plush paws against the base of the brass blade. It felt wonderfully warm from the sun. When I pressed gently, the metal held rock-steady, casting a neat, dark shadow that stretched right across my fuzzy toes like a slender pointer. Resting my chin on the cool limestone rim, I watched the daylight slowly shift.