Paper Ribbon

Spin, flutter, whir! Sitting right beside the breadbox stood a tall white paper towel roll on an upright wooden spindle. A giant spool waiting for a spin, hum-dee-dum! I lunged forward and wrapped both yellow mittens tight around the fat paper cylinder. Tug, whirl, twist! With one eager swoop, the roll spun freely on its peg—shhh-zip! A long sheet peeled loose, cascading down in crinkly accordion folds all over my chest and lap. ...Hush. The kitchen was totally quiet except for the rustling paper. I locked my arms in a snug knot over the soft white layers, bundled up like an unpacked parcel on the sunlit counter.