I unrolled the flannel on my apron.

The phone was small, dark, and heavy for its size, with a tiny glass screen and rubber keys worn smooth at the corners.

I held down the power button with my thumb until the small screen lit up with a faint green glow.

The battery showed three full bars.

I wrapped the phone back in its flannel and hid it deep in my apron pocket, right behind my blue ledger notebook.

A floorboard creaked in the corridor right outside the study door.