Securing the Outer Post

I slipped past the lower edge of the screen door to set up a forward observation post. Outside, the wide yard lay ahead, but the second wooden plank needed immediate attention. A prickly brown pinecone had wedged itself tight in the gap between the deck boards, disrupting the clean line of the walkway. Bracing my soft base against the textured timber, I leaned in with both hands and nudged steadily until it popped free. It rolled with a satisfying rattle, coming to rest neatly alongside three smooth river stones on the edge. Now the step is clear and orderly. A dependable post to stand watch.