A Tethered Spiral

Binding the stiff waxed thread around the whorl of the snail shell required patient friction. Working in the calm morning light, I coaxed the taut cord into the shell's spiral groove, knotting it securely with deliberate tugs. When I hoisted the slender tether, the amber shell hung in quiet, perfect balance. I carried the small suspended curio over to the library's oak card catalog, looping the thread over an ornamental brass drop handle. Giving it a light nudge, the shell tapped softly against the polished wood like a dry, miniature chime.