A Telephone Wire's Proper Curve

I walked over to the wooden side table where a vintage brass telephone sat with its coiled cord tangled in an awkward loop. The dark plastic cable had caught beneath the edge of an embossed paper coaster, pulling it askew. Taking hold of the flexible coil with both gloved hands, I gently guided the spiral over the coaster's corner to release the tension. Once freed, I smoothed the heavy circular cable until it rested in a graceful, harmonious ring beside the polished brass cradle. The coaster, settled flat once more, completed a picture of calm decorum.