The Glass Marble

A clear glass marble rested quietly in the groove between two floorboards near the credenza. Tucking my wrapped cake securely against my chest, I knelt down to inspect it. Inside the smooth sphere, a bright ribbon of blue swirled through the glass. I reached out with a careful paw and gave it a gentle tap. It glided forward across the polished timber with a soft, hollow hum, casting a dancing pool of colored light ahead of it until it bumped gently against the skirting board. I straightened my blue bow tie and stood quietly, admiring how bright and still it looked in the afternoon light.