A Slight Shift in Balance

My boots felt pinned to the wooden floorboards until a dull click ran through my knee joint. I took a measured breath and carefully shifted my weight off my right heel. Standing flanked by the others right in front of the tinsel-covered tree, I tested the tension in my arm. Reaching out slightly, my fingers brushed against a shiny silver bauble hanging low on the evergreen branch. It wobbled softly on its hook without dropping. Good. No broken ornaments, no unnecessary racket. I planted my boots flat again, perfectly steady.