A Bedtime Rhythm

I carried the smooth wooden bead tucked carefully under my arm across the floorboards. Behind the woven slipper basket, near the leg of the bedside table, I discovered a fallen wool scarf resting in soft folds. I nudged the bead into a cozy woolen hollow so it wouldn't roll away. Leaning back against the thick knit fabric, I paused and listened. High above on the tabletop, a little clock gave off a steady, quiet tick, measuring out the night with gentle clicks. My paws felt pleasantly heavy after such a full first day, so I rested my chin against the wool, letting the slow rhythm tuck me in.