A Ring of Marbles

Wriggling out of the deep guitar case, I scampered toward the low coffee table where a round wooden solitaire board lay forgotten on the floorboards. Its circular carved rim held a neat gutter of smooth, swirling glass marbles. Tilting my head, I pressed my plush paws against a glossy cobalt marble and nudged it into motion. It rolled around the perimeter with a clean, low rumble, clicking rhythmically against each indentation. To change the melody, I slid an empty brass napkin ring across the wood, letting the rolling glass strike its curved rim with a soft, ringing chime that vibrated right through the timber.