Spinning the World

The vintage desktop globe perched atop the heavy encyclopedias looked like an entire planet awaiting inspection. I scrambled onto its curved brass support arc, gripped the polished metal rim with both hands, and planted my red boot firmly against the equator. Leaning all my weight into the thrust, I delivered a hard shove! The sphere took off in a silent, spinning blur of turquoise oceans and amber continents, stirring a faint breeze against my visor. As the momentum eased, I clamped my plastic palm flat against the glossy lacquer, bringing the world to an abrupt halt right beneath North America. Home territory secured, and the axis held rock solid.