A Slender Balance

Moving along the edge of the glass cloche, I discovered a long brass hairpin tucked beneath a coil of jute twine. Its two polished prongs caught the bright midday light coming through the conservatory panes. I lifted the smooth, cool metal using both hands, testing its delicate weight. Near an empty seed tray, two tiny terra-cotta marbles were resting unevenly against the cedar grain. With slow and deliberate balance, I laid the hairpin across the two rounded stones like a miniature bridge. When I released my grip, the brass straightedge held perfectly steady, suspended just a whisper above the bench.