A Gentle Tug

I pushed past the heavy paperbacks and waddled out across the floorboards toward the tall curtain pool. Right where the thick linen spilled onto the wood, a round wooden ring from a loose curtain tieback lay flat in the morning dust. I sat down and nudged its curved rim with both plush palms. Nearby, a pale cotton cord had frayed into soft little wisps. With quiet, patient tugs, I guided the frayed tip through the ring's center hole, watching the fibers spread out like tiny whiskers on the smooth wood.