The Giant on the Wall

I hopped down from the sill, dragging that dry spruce twig across the hallway carpet like a spear! As I stomped beneath a glowing wall sconce, a massive, hulking silhouette suddenly reared up across the cream-colored wallpaper! An ambush in the corridor?! My chest tightened—I threw my stance wide, dropped into an iron crouch, and jabbed the twig forward with a ferocious roar! The phantom jabbed right back with lightning speed. Did it know my secret combat style?! Then I blinked, wiggled my elbow, and saw the wall beast twitch in exact sync. Ha! Just my own shadow, stretched giant-sized by the lamp! I rattled off five fierce victory lunges before marching on.