A Gleam in the Shadows

I crept down from the blanket... taking small, quiet steps along the edge of the rug. Under the dark wooden table, something caught the dim lamplight. I stopped. I waited three breaths, listening carefully. Nothing stirred. Moving forward on soft paws, I nudged a tiny, smooth brass paperclip resting near the table leg. It spun once on the floorboard with a tiny metallic chime. I gently nudged it into a cozy indentation in the rug, safe and tucked away.