A Snug Clay Tunnel

I slipped beneath the front gate and trotted down the sidewalk to the neighborhood park corner. Resting tilted in the soft earth of a flowerbed was a small, broken terracotta plant pot. I paused, watching the cool shade tucked inside its curved arch. Crawling in on my hands and knees, my plush paws pressed against the dry, crumbly dirt. It felt earthy and quiet. Inside, a tiny smooth brown snail shell lay nestled against the clay wall. I curled my legs close, resting my back against the sturdy curved pot, safe and hidden while footsteps hurried past on the concrete.