Night Shift in the Netting

Skidding to a halt by the umbrella bin was great, but standing out in the open lobby after dark? Not very stealthy. I grabbed the cold woven wire mesh of the tall metal umbrella stand and hauled myself up rung by rung. Inside, an umbrella with a neon yellow cord loop was leaning quietly. I hooked my curved red hand right through the cord, swinging my plastic legs into a snug perch on the inner rim. Through the lower glass pane of the street door, city headlights swept across the marble floor like roving spotlights. Perfect hidden watchtower—neighborhood perimeter secure for the night!