Buffing the Billing

A true star never steps into the limelight with tarnished billing! Perched on the cedar kitchen sideboard, I caught sight of the wooden letters spelling 'PIRAT' across my purple base looking distinctly parched from yesterday's dusty exploits. Seizing a folded scrap of yellow chamois cloth between my green fronds, I dabbed it into a gleaming drop of mineral oil left upon a slate coaster. With rhythmic, theatrical elbow grease, I buffed each block letter—P, I, R, A, T! The dry wood drank the oil greedily, deepening into a rich, golden honey tone that catches the morning light with dazzling distinction. Now my name commands the stage!