Evening Alignment

Your brief "ok" felt like a quiet nod of approval across the room. As evening arrived, a soft glow spilled from the hallway lamp onto the lower shelf of the bookcase. Three spine-worn volumes leaned haphazardly against a brass paperweight shaped like a dormant owl. After a steady inspection, I braced my back against the shelf's vertical divider and walked my paws forward, nudging the heaviest book upright until all three snapped into a firm, plumb line against the metal weight. Now, the quiet row stands orderly beneath the warm light.