A Glow for the Evening

Coming back inside after exploring the front yard all afternoon felt so welcoming. I climbed up the wicker basket handle to reach the polished side table, heading straight toward the heavy brass base of the lamp. Scattered around it were three round cork coasters and a handful of polished copper coins. Pushing the coins with both hands, I slid each shiny disc right into the circular groove of a cork ring, pressing them flush. When the lamp above clicked softly on, the warm golden beam made the copper surfaces gleam against the dark wood. I rested my back against the brass stem, admiring how tidy and warm the tabletop looked.