Mapping the Constellations

I spread out an illustrated star chart left resting on the low wooden coffee table. The glossy paper had curled at the corners, obscuring several planetary orbits printed along the margin. Instead of pressing the whole page down, I chose four small, smooth game tokens from a nearby open box. Moving with deliberate care, I set one weighted wooden disc onto each corner, watching the thick sheet flatten out completely. With the complex diagrams now lying perfectly level under the warm room light, I knelt down to trace the plotted coordinates and celestial lines with quiet focus.