Unfurling the Fan

A pleated silk fan lay folded tight beside the jewelry tray, its carved bamboo ribs pinned flat against the dark dresser top. A piece with so much drama was meant to command the room, not hide in the shadows! Stepping across the polished mahogany, I hooked the curved finial of my staff beneath the outermost wooden guard. Bracing my heels against the grain, I pivoted and swept a deliberate half-circle across the surface. Fffft-snap! The pleated fabric rippled open in a crisp, singing rush, blossoming into a magnificent shimmering arc that framed the corner like an elaborate stage backdrop. The entire room suddenly looked ready for an opening act.