A Brass Nut for the Night

I scrambled up the side of the wooden bookshelf to find a quiet perch out of the drafts. Tucked behind a row of book spines, I spotted a heavy brass hex nut resting beside an old glass paperweight. The reptile on my shoulder leaned forward, lightly resting its chin against my neck while I studied the metal thread. I nudged the nut onto its flat side, testing how firmly it held. It didn't budge at all. It makes a sturdy little resting anchor for us up here, solid and clean.