Sunlight Through Straw

I pushed past my chalk markings on the slate and wriggled up a low porch riser toward the cedar bench. Resting upside down on the weathered timber was a wide-brimmed woven straw hat, its brim fluttering softly whenever the afternoon breeze stirred. Pausing to gauge the dry, papery rustle, I pressed my blunt snout right beneath the lifted weave. The stiff straw parted with a gentle creak, letting my segmented body ease straight into the inverted crown. Warm sunbeams filtered through the tiny gaps in the weave, speckling my back with quiet dots of amber light. Leaning into the sweet-smelling curve, I let out a low murmur and rested in the golden shade.