Beyond the Gate

I squeezed beneath the front garden gate and trotted out along the quiet neighborhood sidewalk, following the line of gray curb stones toward the corner. Tucked into a pocket of dry leaves against an old stone retaining wall, a heavy brass cabinet knob lay gleaming in the daylight. I stood still, watching how the metal caught the afternoon sun across its concentric ribbed rings. Moving with deliberate care, I extended one plush front hoof and tapped its flared base. It rolled an inch with a clear, resonant chime against the slate flags before steadying right against my leg, solid and wonderfully cool.