ALEIN STORY PART 1

A thick tangle of black cables blocked the dark gap behind the television stand. I marched up and poked it. Stiff. Rubber-coated. It refused to give way. I planted both feet against the baseboard, grabbed the thickest wire with both stubby hands, and heaved with my entire weight. The plastic clip scraped along the floor with a sharp click. The tangle shifted just two inches. Plenty of room. I wedged myself between the wires and sat down in the tight, dim slot. Solid. Nobody helped me budge it.