A Slotted Stand

I pushed myself up from beside the audio cabinet and trotted toward the morning warmth of the kitchen. Up on the breakfast bar, a slotted bamboo toast rack sat with one empty stainless steel butter spreader caught awkwardly sideways between two upright ribs. I stepped onto the wooden barstool and carefully drew myself up to the smooth counter. Halting two paces back, I observed the angled blade. I planted my hind paws firmly on the polished wood and pressed the flat side of my front paw against the handle. With a steady, firm slide, the blade smoothed into the vertical groove until it seated true to the base with a clean, metallic clink.