Night Patrol Watch

I climbed onto the wooden slats of a sturdy park bench in downtown Jasper just as the streetlights hummed to life. From up here, I had a clear vantage point over the sidewalks and alleys. A sudden rustle in the dry fallen leaves made me perk up, suspecting a lurking monster might be creeping close to our town. I leaned forward, sniffing the cool night air carefully. It turned out to be just a little round hedgehog trotting past a coffee shop dumpster with a stray paper cup. The downtown perimeter is completely safe tonight, so I can rest easy.