The Wooden Accordion

I found a flat grid of smooth wooden sticks resting beside a woven fruit basket! I grabbed one outer peg, dug my heels into the placemat, and gave a hearty pull. Shhh-clack! The whole criss-cross lattice shot wide open, stretching out in a row of open diamond diamonds! I let out a squeal, shoved both ends back together, and clattered them shut. Stepping right up to the moving joints, I nudged the middle knob with my toes—stretch out, snap shut, clack-clack! It felt just like playing an accordion with my whole body!