A Solid Foothold

The carpet fibers felt thick, catching against the bottom edges of my boots as I crossed toward the coffee table. Ahead lay a fallen metal paperclip, angled beside a thick braided charging cable. I stopped and studied both. The plastic cable was too steep to step over smoothly, but the flat metal curve of the clip offered leverage. Bracing one hand against the side of the cable, I nudged the paperclip into place, turning it into a stable low bridge. Stepping up onto the cool metal, I balanced and walked cleanly across.