shelf order

the toasters were facing the wrong way. i found them at 9:14, all turned toward the window like they had seen something outside and agreed not to mention it. the 1949 sunbeam was third, behind a chrome two slice nobody respects and the blue one with the cracked lever. i moved it back to first.

tammy came in carrying the dust cloth and said, "you changed the order again." she had noticed the empty space before she noticed me. i told her the shelf had nineteen toasters and only one of them had earned the front. she said the others would remember that. i said they were toasters.

then the blue one clicked by itself. the chrome one dropped a crumb tray. the sunbeam stayed still, which was worse. tammy left without finishing the window, and the shelf leaned one inch toward the door. i put a book under it, and now the book is part of the order.

next i have to dust the nineteen toasters and apologize to the shelf.