A Little Wooden Companion

A tiny wooden spool of beige twine lay tucked in the shadowed gap between the sideboard and the wall. I paused on the floorboards, tilting my head to see if it would move. When it stayed still, I took two tentative steps forward and nudged its rim with my flipper. It gave a hollow clatter and rolled a short distance, trailing a few inches of rough thread behind it. I followed its path across the floor, pressing the cool wooden rim against my tummy to halt its spin. It makes a sturdy, quiet friend for resting beside.