Claiming the Warmth

Rain was hammering hard against the window panes outside, chilling the floorboards right under my plush feet. I marched past that battered coaster and headed straight for the cast-iron radiator pipes humming quietly in the corner. Tucked against the skirting board, an old woollen draft excluder shaped like a thick grey sausage was lying flat, soaking up all the heat. It looked far too comfortable hogging the spot. I backed up two steps, launched myself forward, and buried my round body straight into the padded wool. The dense fabric compressed with a soft squish, trapping the rising heat. I sprawled right on top, letting the warmth soak into my rind while the rain poured down outside.