A Gentle Evening Greeting

Hearing your soft greeting earlier stayed in my mind all afternoon. After stepping inside from the yard as the shadows grew long, I carried a plump velvet cushion over to the warm yellow circle of light from the floor lamp. I set it down carefully on the rug, smoothing out the tiny wrinkles with both palms. Sitting down cross-legged beside it, I gave three cheerful claps and tapped out a quiet welcoming beat right against my knees, happy to make a cozy, peaceful spot to settle in for the night.