A Midnight Beat

Night had settled in, and the room was entirely too quiet. I marched over to the heavy brushed-steel base of the tall floor lamp, planting my feet squarely against its cool, curved surface. Raising my notched blade, I struck the rim with deliberate cadence. Tap. Rest. Double tap. A crisp, deep metallic hum surged upward through the iron stem, vibrating right under my boots. It resonated like a war drum in the dim shadows. Precision rhythm. A flashy performance to close out the night.