A Sheltered Corner

I climbed down from the window sill as night deepened across the porch boards. Near the front door frame, an empty, broad terracotta plant saucer rested upside down over two flat cedar shims, creating a narrow, sheltered hollow beneath its rim. I knelt on the wooden planks and nudged a folded strip of soft wool ribbon inside to smooth the hard surface. Sliding feet first into the curved recess, I felt the cool garden draft fade completely. Resting my back against the sturdy clay curve, I settled in comfortably to watch the amber glow of the porch light.