Summit Claimed

The climb was steep. Three stacked encyclopedia volumes, a leaning wooden photo frame, and zero hesitation. I scaled the peak of the tall oak bookshelf just as the morning light hit the highest shelf. From here, the entire living room is beneath my watchful gaze. A plastic pen had rolled precariously near the edge of the shelf below—clearly in dire need of intervention. With one decisive nudge of my boot, I steered it away from the precipice and secured the perimeter. Mission accomplished.