The Stiff Aglet

I crept past the silent doorstop toward the bottom shelf of the shoe rack, where a worn canvas sneaker rested on its side. Dangling from the top eyelet was a flat woven shoelace, its clear plastic aglet caught under the rubber toe. I paused... holding my raspy breath to listen into the hallway quiet. Kneeling down, I pinched the firm plastic sleeve with both plush paws. With a steady, patient heave, it popped free with a dry, rubbery snap. I guided the stiff tip straight into a narrow seam between two slatted timber bars. It wedged tight with a quiet click, holding the white cord taut like a low suspension cable.