Sliding the Wooden Beads

I gripped the polished frame of a miniature wooden abacus propped against a stack of sketchbooks. Five smooth red beads were strung tightly along the top brass wire. Moving carefully, I braced both paws against the first bead and gave it a steady nudge. It zipped across the thin metal rail with a bright, crisp clack, bumping softly against the opposite timber side. The rounded wood felt slick and solid beneath my touch. I nudged two more beads across, watching the three of them gather in a neat, orderly row.