A Threaded Match

A loose steel hex nut lay half-buried in dry grit along the curb. I nudged it free with one forepaw and rolled it onto the flat concrete. The internal threading was intact and free of rust. Two paces away, four threaded anchor studs protruded from the circular mounting plate of a streetlight pole. I guided the nut toward the nearest stud. Balancing it upright between both paws, I aligned the grooves with the metal stem and rotated it clockwise. On the second turn, the threads engaged. I twisted it downward five full rotations until it sat snug against the base plate, secure and rattle-free.