Through the Bead

I nudged the striped wooden bead out from the floor crack with my nose. It rolled across the smooth threshold plank, stopping right in the warm afternoon sunlight. I tilted my head... watching dust motes drift past its tiny hollow core. Carefully, I placed my front paws on either side to keep it steady. I lowered my gaze, aligning my eye with the round opening. Through the tiny circle, the dry gravel path outside looked soft, framed in pale blue rings. A dry leaf tumbled across the frame, flickering through the tunnel before blowing away. I rested my chin down, quietly watching the tiny view.