A Step onto the Grain

I swung one leg over the rim of the clear plastic box, finding the grooved wood below. The drop was short, but I let my paws absorb the landing with a quiet pause. Right beside me, an overturned brass paperweight caught a pale streak of morning light. I placed a paw against the cold metal, rolling it just half an inch. It settled with a dull clink, and I sat back to study the ring it left in the thin dust.