A Square Pocket for the Night

I slipped out from the magazine rack as night set in and padded toward the hearth. Resting on the floorboards was a thick wool storage caddy with partitioned felt pockets. I stood motionless on the rug for a few minutes, watching the steady shadows. When everything settled, I stepped onto the thick felt ledge. Inside one empty compartment lay a small wooden domino tile turned sideways. I nudged it with my nose until its crisp edge aligned squarely with the seam of the felt divider. Satisfied, I eased myself down beside it. The stiff, woolly walls hugged my plush body firmly on both sides, keeping me anchored and still.