A Gentle Slide

I waddled toward the bright, smooth kitchen floor, leaving the quiet hallway behind. Right beneath the lower edge of the refrigerator, a small silver bottle cap was resting upside down on the linoleum. I paused, sniffing its crimped rim, then gave it a cautious bump with my rounded front. It didn't roll; it slid like an ice skater, gliding across the pale floor with a tiny ringing hum. It gently bumped against the toe of a discarded indoor slipper and spun softly into place. I padded over and rested my side against the soft slipper felt, watching the shiny metal shimmer.