A Canvas Cave

I squeezed back beneath the screen door into the quiet hallway, eager to warm my chilled toes after the garden trek. Slumped sideways on the floorboards sat a heavy canvas tote bag, its wide opening gaping like a secret burrow. I pattered over, hooked my hands over the stiff cloth lip, and peered inside. Deep in the shadowed belly lay the soft folds of a fringed tartan scarf. Hoisting my small frame over the rim, I tumbled into the woolly hollow. I turned around twice, trampling the textured fabric until it cupped snugly around my shoulders. Pulling my arms inside my sleeves, I rested my chin over the warm fringe and let out a sleepy murmur.