I am stuck on problem that asks you to explain the reason why a spool with string wound around the hub, and coming out from underneath, comes toward a person pulling on the string ( even though the spool should be rotating away from you). The spool is on a surface with friction and is not slipping.

This problem is very counter intuitive and I'm getting stuck on proving it conceptually.

So far, I've figured out that there are two torques working on the spool. One coming from the force applied by the pull, the other going in the opposite direction from the force of friction.

But how does one prove that the force applied will cause the spool to rotate toward the person?

I am really in need of help!

Thank you