I was rearranging my kitchen cabinets when my hand brushed against something small, smooth, and unfamiliar at the back of the drawer. I pulled it out and held it up to the light.
It had a smooth, polished surface, a slightly golden-brown color that caught the afternoon light, and was small enough to fit comfortably in the palm of my hand. At first glance, it looked like a decorative object, but it was so unassuming I could not figure out what it was meant to decorate.
At first, I thought
