Anna found the puzzle piece under the sofa, where only one corner showed. The puzzle was on the coffee table, nearly finished, and a blue sky waited in the middle with one small hole in it, and the piece under the sofa was also blue, which meant these were related conditions.

Anna lay flat on the rug and looked under the sofa, where dust lay in a soft line along the floor and one dog hair was attached to the puzzle piece, though the dog hair was not part of the puzzle. She reached two fingers under the sofa and touched the edge, and the piece moved back, so Anna stopped and said quietly, “Push risk.”

She studied the piece, noting that it was flat and light with irregular edges, four small arms, and one bent corner. Pinch carry would hold it firmly, but too much pressure could bend the corner, while palm carry would protect the corner but allow sliding because flat things move easily.

Anna considered and chose palm carry, saying, “Flat object. Open hand.” She slid one finger behind the piece and pulled slowly, and the puzzle piece came out with the dog hair still attached. Anna removed the hair and placed it on the rug beside her, where it curled slightly, and although it was not operationally relevant, it was still noticed.

She set the puzzle piece in the center of her palm with the blue side up and assessed the route, which went from the rug to her knees, from her knees to standing, and then around the coffee table leg to the open sky hole. Standing was the first hazard because flat things do not announce movement and can leave without warning.

Anna lifted her hand, and the piece slid toward her thumb, so she lowered her thumb slightly, not holding but blocking, and said, “Edge guard.” She stood, and the puzzle piece stayed.

At the coffee table, her brother reached for another piece that was already connected, and the puzzle shifted, not far but enough, and the empty sky hole moved two inches away. Anna froze, and the piece on her palm kept sliding until it reached the edge of her hand and tipped halfway over.

Anna brought her other hand underneath, and the piece fell onto it face down. Anna waited, and the room waited, and her brother stopped touching the puzzle. “Position lost,” Anna said.

She turned the piece over carefully using one finger against her wrist until the blue side faced up again, and the sky hole was still open. Anna moved closer, but not too close, and lowered the piece so that one arm touched the puzzle first, though it was the wrong arm.

Anna lifted it again and turned the piece once, but it was still wrong, so she turned it again until the bent corner faced the bent place in the sky and said, “Orientation found.”

She lowered the piece into the hole, but it did not go in, and one side rested on top. Anna pressed nothing because pressing was for after fitting. She lifted the edge, moved it the smallest amount, and set it down again, and the piece dropped into place, completing the sky.

Anna removed both hands, and the puzzle piece rose slightly at one corner. She looked at it, then at the whole sky, and said, “Minor lift remaining.” Her brother pressed the corner flat with one finger, and Anna nodded and said, “Acceptable fit.”