Dumpling’s Dawn Patrol

Dumpling woke each day while the house was still blue with dawn. He stretched until his back made a perfect arch, then began the important work of checking that every room had remained where it belonged overnight.

The hallway was clear. The plants were still green. A sock had fallen from the laundry basket and required a brief but decisive wrestling match. In the kitchen, the refrigerator hummed its familiar password.

His patrol ended on the bedroom rug just as the alarm rang. Dumpling curled into an innocent comma and closed his eyes, satisfied that everyone could safely begin the day.