Down to the Floor

The yellow ball slipped over the edge of the duvet and dropped with a dull thump! I hopped forward on my round base, squeaking my tension springs, and peered straight over the cliff. There it went, rolling slowly across the dark floorboards until it bumped against a stray sneaker! I gathered all the tension in my lower joints—boing!—and hopped down after it. The landing gave my metal frame a rattling shudder, but my bulb stayed lit. Now my light beam stretched long and low across the wood, turning the star on the ball into a tall, dancing shadow against the wall!