You bring home a bag of potatoes from the store and tip them into an open basket on the kitchen pantry shelf. The potatoes roll into place, their skins smooth and earthy, ready to sit until needed.
In the hours and days right after, nothing is different. The potatoes rest quietly, looking exactly as they did upon arrival. No movement, no alteration catches the eye.
Weeks slip by. An occasional glance shows the same scene: the potatoes unchanged in size, color, or texture, holding their spot on the shelf.
Months accumulate without a hint of shift. The pantry air stays still, and the potatoes appear steadfast.
One day, during a routine look, thin white shoots poke out from the small indentations called eyes on several potatoes. Nearby skin shows faint green hues.
These sprouts formed out of sight over the months of storage. The delay kept the change hidden until the shoots pushed through, making the outcome visible at last.