A Matter of Proper Placement

I walked into the quiet dining room after spending the afternoon in the garden. Up on the dark oak table, a patterned ceramic teacup was sitting off-center, its rim tilted over the braided edge of a thick woven coaster. Leaving it perched so unevenly would never do. I planted my boots firmly on the polished tabletop, took hold of the coaster's stubborn jute edge, and tugged in steady, measured pulls. With one firm final adjustment, the coaster slid flush beneath the cup's base, settling the cup completely upright with a soft, solid tap.