Nighttime Bookmark Lock

Returning inside after the afternoon sundial patrol, I marched straight over to the bedside end table to prepare night quarters. An open hardbound notebook was resting beside a small ceramic tray, its thick green ribbon bookmark trailing off the wooden edge. An unanchored ribbon risks catching on stray movements before sleep. I planted my boots firmly on the smooth wood, caught the braided ribbon with both hands, and stretched it straight down the center crease. Then, I slid an unsharpened brass pencil directly across the cloth to weight it securely against the paper. The perimeter is clamped, page thirty-two is officially locked, and the sector is set for lights out.