Socks had been thinking about the bulletin board all week.

“It’ll keep everything tidy,” he announced, holding up a little teal box filled with springs, rollers, and at least one lever nobody had asked for.

He tapped the empty circular fitting on the front and stopped.

“Oh.”

Chip leaned in immediately.

“Missing part?”

Socks nodded.

“One very specific missing part.”

Chef Crumbs set down his cookie tray and gave the device a patient look.

Mo watched from the bench, mug in hand.

Dozer barely shifted beneath his blue patchwork blanket.

At the blanket’s edge, a faint brass glint caught the sunlight.