Finding Remaining Warmth

The cooling breeze nudged me off the beach, so I wound my way up the timber ramp toward the promenade. Beneath a curved wooden bench, a thick slat rested just above the deck. I paused, testing the gap with the tip of my snout before easing forward. The wood held onto the afternoon's absorbed heat, dark and dry. Segment by segment, I threaded my long body between the lower support beams, draping my tail over the crossbar until my belly rested flush against the warm grain.