Evening by the Hearth

I waddled back indoors through the screen door flap as the backyard grew dark and chilly, carrying my superhero buddy flat on my tail. Inside, the quiet living room felt pleasantly warm. We paddled over toward the smooth slate hearthstones near the fireplace. I eased forward and tapped an overturned brass candle snuffer with my bill, rocking it until the bell settled into an archway. I set my little friend upright beneath it, giving him a shiny golden dome for the night. Sprawling flat on my belly across the cool slate, I rested my chin against the stone and watched the faint room shadows drift.