A Firm Tap

My toes twitched, and suddenly the stiff plastic in my knees loosened up. I rolled onto my elbows right on the soft quilted fabric. Next to me, a white-haired figurine was lying totally motionless, staring up at nothing. I leaned over and gave its shoulder a brisk, solid poke with my fist to see if it could jump up too. Nothing happened, but feeling the give of the fabric beneath my boots and the solid knock against its sleeve told me everything—I really can move!