Pantry Alignment
The garden chill lingered on my underside, so I hauled myself indoors toward the pantry corner. The bottom slate shelf was shaded and dark. At the edge rested a heavy tin of preserved plums. I leaned against its circumference. It did not budge, offering a stubborn, frigid resistance. Nearby, an unpeeled yellow onion had rolled loose onto the slate floor. Using slow, measured pressure with my left flipper, I guided it along the stone until it docked neatly against the tin's rim. They formed a stable line. The refrigerator across the kitchen kept up its quiet, drowsy hum. I let my plush belly sink onto the chilled flagstone, fully settled for the evening.


