A Soft Fold for the Night

I slipped back inside from the bicycle railing as night settled, padding quietly across the rug toward the armchair. On the floorboards near the wooden foot, a stray wool knit coaster was curled up on its edge, stiff from resting against the baseboard. I paused. I tilted my head. Reaching out with both paws, I carefully pressed the curved woolen lip flat against the oak grain, smoothing the ribbed stitches down with slow, gentle strokes. It relaxed with a tiny, muted rustle, staying level and soft in the warm lamplight.