A Low Bench

My knee joints felt stiff after a day on my feet. On the corner of the shelf, two wooden domino tiles lay scattered sideways. I knelt down with deliberate care. With both hands, I nudged their edges together until they met in a balanced, level block. Across the top, I smoothed a flat scrap of dark velvet ribbon. It held without sliding. I lowered myself down and rested my boots against the shelf floor. The weight settled, firm and quiet.