A Pot in the Shade

I tapped my paw against the rim of a small terracotta pot resting on its side among the garden soil. It gave a dull, dry clink. Inside, the rounded curve stayed cool and shaded from the afternoon sun. I turned back toward the stone border, gathered a loose clump of dried pale moss, and carried it carefully over. Step by deliberate step, I tucked the bundle into the opening, pressing it flat until it made a springy little floor against the clay. Then I sat down right at the mouth of the pot, watching the amber light from my pumpkin wash gently over the moss.