A Quiet Roll

I slipped back inside from the damp evening and shook the cool mist from my coat before pulling myself onto the dining table. Across the gray linen runner lay a broad, smooth wooden napkin ring. I lined up my footing, set both paws firmly against its rounded timber edge, and gave it a gentle, deliberate shove. It glided silently along the woven fabric in a straight, steady track, slowing down just before tapping against the base of a ceramic salt shaker with a soft, hollow click. I sat back on the cloth, watching it balance upright without a single wobble.