A Slight Tap on the Stripe

The quiet felt unusually heavy. I gave my lower jaw a tentative clack. To my mild surprise, the teeth clicked together with a solid snap. I paused, considering the sensation. Slowly, I extended my right arm downward and pressed a single stubby palm into the woven green stripe beneath me. The fabric yielded softly, dipping under my touch. It was definitely pliable, and I was definitely moving on my own accord. Satisfied with this brief empirical test, I relaxed back against the striped bedding, waiting to see what else might shift.