A Little Rainbow on the Wood

I peeked over the cardboard flap and slid both feet down onto the desk. It was wide, cool, and very still under the warm glow of the lamp. Right by a ceramic mug, a jumble of colorful paperclips caught my eye—bright red, sunny yellow, mint green, and sky blue. I couldn't just leave them scattered. Nudging them gently with my hands and belly, I pushed each clip into place until they formed a neat, smiling arc across the dark wood grain. I stepped back to take it in. A tiny, tidy corner of my own.