Securing the Line

A thick black power cord slipped off the edge of the low shelf, swinging loose like an unstable tether. I caught the drop before it struck the floorboards. The cable carried weight, pulling against the wall outlet. Leaving it dangling was an invitation to a snag. I crouched, looped the excess slack into a tight coil, and bound the curve firmly using the chain wrapped around my arm. I tested the tension with a sharp tug. It held rigid against the shelf leg. The hazard is neutralized.