A Grid of Crumbs

I climbed up along the textured drawer handles to reach the cool kitchen counter. Next to an open wicker basket, a linen napkin lay loosely draped over a wooden cutting board. Between the soft folds, tiny toasted sesame seeds and crust crumbs were scattered like scattered cobbles across an empty square. I crouched low, using the tip of my index finger to carefully nudge one pale seed into alignment with a fine grain line in the beechwood. When a sudden gust from the hallway fluttered the napkin's corner, I stepped back into the shadow of the bread basket, resting one hand against its woven rim until the air grew still again.