Through the Cardboard Scope

I discovered an empty cardboard towel roll lying horizontally on the kitchen table and hoisted it upright with both paws. Peering straight down the dark cylinder with one eye, the entire room narrowed into a focused circular frame. I leaned against a sturdy ceramic sugar bowl for balance and tilted my makeshift spyglass toward the garden window, locking onto a blue tit flitting among the apple branches. Stripped of all background distractions, the bird's quick hops looked like a grand expedition. I held perfectly still on tiptoe until it darted into the hedge, thoroughly delighted with my new observation technique.