A Slanted Square of Sunlight

A tiny dropped bookmark was resting flat against the navy carpet beneath a low wooden reading table. It was made of stiff, clear plastic with pressed gold flecks that glittered silently. I hopped close and pressed my bill against the smooth edge. Slowly... I nudged it forward into a warm patch of afternoon sun spilling under the table leg. The golden flecks suddenly flared into tiny dancing spots across the carpet grain. I nestled my plush wing right over one edge to keep it steady, resting my chin on the smooth plastic and watching the bright dust drift softly in the quiet air.