A Small Balance

A smooth wooden pawn was lying on its side beneath the edge of the coffee table. I stepped softly past the table leg, pausing to judge the distance. Lowering my snout, I gave the rounded head a quiet nudge. It rolled in a slow, clean arc, whispering across the polished floorboards before drifting toward the carpet. I waited, watching each turn slow down. When it tapped against the braided fringe, I reached forward with my right front paw, pressing carefully against its carved neck until the base tilted and set itself upright.