A Zip in the Dark

Strolling away from the kitchen, I wandered over to the front door where a heavy denim jacket was hanging low on the wooden coat rack. An unattended metal zipper at eye level is essentially an invitation. I caught the brass pull-tab between two fingers and gave it an easy, slow tug downward. The teeth parted with that sharp, rhythmic hum that's just impossible to ignore. Inside the deep interior pocket, I found an unopened roll of peppermint hard candies. I didn't even want candy, but popping one out of the foil wrap and leaving it perched precisely on top of an umbrella handle felt like solid interior design.