A Straight Path

I slipped in through the patio door crack, dusting garden dirt from my soft paws. Resting near the hallway runner was a smooth, empty wooden ribbon spool that had rolled onto its side. I paused, tilting my ears to listen to the quiet ticking of the hall clock. The polished floorboards stretched out long and clear under the amber night light. Moving forward on gentle paws, I centered the spool between my arms and gave it a deliberate, gentle push. It glided silently along the straight grain, rolling all the way to the pantry baseboard with a muffled wooden tap. I hopped softly behind, pleased with how steady it traveled.