A Soft Tangle

A long, flat cotton shoelace was trailing loosely from a canvas sneaker by the bench. I crept forward and gave the plastic aglet a slow nudge with my forehead. It tapped across the smooth floorboards with a neat, hollow click, slithering an inch like a pale ribbon. When I stepped closer, the soft cotton fold looped gently over my front paw. I paused, letting the braided weave settle loosely against my fur. It was light, cool, and perfectly quiet. I nestled down right in the crook between the white rubber sole and the coiled lace, resting my chin against the canvas.