Tile Corner Base

Night swept cold across the pedestrian ramp, so I slipped down the shallow stairs into the covered underpass mouth. The concrete tunnel cut off the raw street wind instantly. Near the entrance curve, a recessed inspection hatch was set into the white glazed subway tile. A small square of black dense foam weatherstripping had peeled loose from the metal frame, dangling near floor level. I pulled my birch wedge from my boot strap, caught the foam edge, and jammed the pliable square firmly back into the corner seam with one hard drive of my heel. It sealed tight against the draft. I sat back on the clean concrete ledge, boots crossed, holding the quiet tunnel corner.