A Gentle Slide

I rested both paws against the smooth grain of a long wooden pencil box sitting on the lower shelf of the console table. Near one end, a shallow thumb notch was carved into the sliding lid. Leaning my weight forward with gentle care, I pressed against the ridge until the wooden panel gave way with a soft, dry rasp. It glided slowly along two narrow side runners, revealing three cedar pencils resting snugly in the trough inside. After admiring their neat painted barrels and sharp graphite tips, I pressed the lid back into place until it sat completely flush against the frame.