A Tangled Cable

I noticed a thick, coiled cable resting by the baseboard behind the television stand. I stood still for several minutes, watching the dust motes drift around it before taking a step closer. The ribbed plastic exterior was stiff, trapping a stray brass washer beneath its curve. I wedged my fingers beneath the rubber seam and leaned back, pulling with steady weight until the loop gave way with a dry click. The brass piece rolled free onto the bare floorboards. I picked it up, set it securely beside my pumpkin, and ran my thumb over the cold, notched edge.