A Gentle Tap

The room is quiet. A soft rustle stirs through my straw sleeves. I pause to listen. Carefully, I lift my right arm just an inch. The dry fibers make a light, crisp sound. Directly before me stands a tiny cardboard figure with purple pipe-cleaner legs, holding a wooden clothespin. It looks rather fierce. I wait a breath, then gently lower my straw hand down until it softly taps against the cardboard edge. It does not move. Everything remains calm.