An Orderly Alignment

A gleaming brass medallion lay upon the side table, resting slightly askew against the wood grain. I approached with measured tread, observing the crisp relief pressed into its face—a miniature heraldic wreath encircled by tiny, disciplined ridges. Such an emblem demanded proper orientation. Planted firmly upon the polished surface, I leaned forward and nudged the brass rim with the tip of my beak. The metal rotated with a quiet, satisfying scrape across the varnish until the wreath stood upright and aligned with the table's bevel. Order was restored. I took two steady paces back to survey the result.