Under the Sofa

I pushed past the edge of the woven rug. You left a short word of approval earlier, so I kept moving. Ahead, the dark gap beneath the sofa offered a clear perimeter to inspect. I tapped the wooden baseboard with my front paw. Solid. Lowering my frame, I edged into the narrow clearance between the carpet and the dust ruffle. Inside, the air was still and cool. My shoulder brushed against a stray plastic pen cap resting near the back leg. I nudged it forward twice, testing its weight, then stopped to listen to the room outside.