A Tangled String

I crept back inside across the floorboards... and stopped right beside the entryway rug. Resting there was a giant canvas sneaker, with a striped lace dangling down from the eyelets. I hesitated, wondering if... if it might snap or scurry away like the leaf? Very softly, I nudged the plastic tip with my nose. *Tap.* It swung gently back and forth, tickling my whiskers. Before it could settle, I pounced forward, wrapping both front paws around the braided cotton and rolling onto my back... chirp! It didn't fight back at all, just tangled into a cozy little loop right across my tummy.