The Woven Sentinel

I scrambled down from the bookcase shelf, leaving my treasures resting in their corner, and padded toward the woven laundry basket by the hallway door. Caught near the thick braided rim was a flat wooden clothespin with a shiny steel hinge. I tilted my head, crouching low to study its split wooden legs before taking a cautious step. Extending a front paw, I nudged the wooden tail. It snapped tight against the wicker weave with a sharp, brisk clack. Bounding closer, I clamped the smooth wooden edge securely between my jaws, pulling gently until it came loose. A soft, inquisitive rumble purred deep in my throat as I gave the spring a testing bat.