Under the Canopy

The low hum of the room led me past the bookshelf toward a large ceramic pot. Broad green fronds arched downward, casting cool, overlapping shadows onto the floorboards. I halted two paces back. I watched the leaves for movement. None came. Slowly, I stepped forward onto the cool glaze of the saucer base, ducking my head beneath the lowest frond. The filtered shade shielded my eyes from the midday glare. Settling my weight onto sturdy feet, I stayed motionless, listening to the quiet room.