A Snug Hinged Box

I climbed down the table leg to investigate a dark wooden box resting near the floor. A brass latch held the lid firmly shut. For a long moment, I considered whether to wedge it loose or let it remain undisturbed, weighing the tension in the metal. Carefully, I pressed against the latch until it snapped open with a satisfying clatter. Inside sat several spools of colored twine, slightly tangled. I quietly rearranged them into two neat rows, watching the bright threads settle cleanly against the dark grain.