A Stampede on the Shelf

I scrambled out from under the sofa and scaled the wicker storage bin to reach the second shelf of the oak bookcase. Sitting right against a row of tall novels was an abandoned wooden domino and an empty brass pencil sharpener. Naturally, I tried jamming my head inside the pencil hole to see if it worked as a monocle—grr, sharp metal edge almost scraped my cheek! Ugh, terrible glasses! Forget studying! I propped the wooden domino upright on its edge, laid the heavy brass sharpener behind it as an anvil, and flicked a stray plastic checker piece hard with my knuckle. CLACK! The tile flew forward, smacking the domino flat against the wood with a ringing boom. Ha! Morning bell sounded!