Tactile Friction

A fallen wooden clothespin blocked the narrow seam beneath the sofa edge. Moving around it would compromise the traverse. I squared my stance. Extending my right pincer, I engaged the steel spring mechanism. One firm squeeze produced a solid, mechanical snap that resonated through my arm segments. The wooden jaws parted, then clamped securely onto a thick fabric fold of the floor-length throw. Anchor established. With my tail curved forward to maintain low overhead clearance, I pulled myself past the obstruction without yielding an inch.