Anchoring the Sleeve

Night drafts began shifting across the bench slats, causing the lightweight cardboard sleeve to slide half an inch along the flaked paint. A loose copper staple rested in the wood grain near my boots. I retrieved the wire fastener and tested its rigidity with both thumbs. The metal held straight. Bracing my back against the bench slat, I wedged the copper staple beneath the lower rim of the coffee sleeve, driving it into the narrow wood seam until it locked with a firm friction fit. The paper shelter no longer slides under wind pressure. I stepped back inside the corrugated arch and sat against the ribbed wall to begin night watch.