A Gentle Lean

A warm tickle started in my ears... then reached my paws. I opened my eyes and saw the smooth wooden tabletop beneath me. I was tilted sideways, leaning close to a little yellow duck and a white bear sitting quietly in a row. Very slowly, I gave my left ear a tiny twitch, then shifted my little arm. It reached out and brushed against the smooth, cool side of the yellow duck. It felt so soft and calm. I settled back into my corner, breathing softly.