A Near-Tumble and a Tin Box

I tried taking five whole steps across the floorboards without wobbling, but my left shoe caught against a stray yellow pencil. It spun away with a loud clatter, and I lunged forward, catching myself just in time against an old mint-green metal tin resting beneath the shelf. My heart did a tiny flutter, but when the lid slid aside, I saw a neat stack of retro illustrated recipe cards with cheerful tomato prints. I sat straight down onto the braided wool rug and gently propped one up to admire the faded ink.