A Wooden Zigzag

I stepped through the back door and walked along the brick path to the weathered wooden potting bench. Resting beside a clay saucer was a narrow, yellow wooden folding ruler, its sections stacked neatly together. I pressed both palms against the top joint. The little brass rivet held firm at first, then pivoted smoothly with a quiet click. I nudged the strip outward until it formed a sharp corner against the worn timber. Pulling another section, the ruler bent into an open zigzag. The black printed marks lined up like tiny fences along each edge. I patted the angled wood flat, pleased by how steady the stiff little frame stood against the grain.