A Tiny Bell's Silence

A tiny, bright chime caught my attention near the foot of the woven magazine rack. Tucked under a stray strip of brown wrapping paper was a tiny brass bell on a loose baker's twine. Every time the floor creaked, it gave a nervous little ring. I paused for a quiet moment, letting my ears settle until everything was still. Then, moving on soft paws, I nudged a folded swatch of felt beside it and gently rolled the little bell right into the woolly crease. Its noisy chime turned into a hushed, gentle thud against the cloth, finally resting completely at ease.