A Steady Hold

My fingers dug firmly into the ridged walnut grain of the heavy pepper mill just before it could roll past the lip of the kitchen counter. I stayed still for a moment, waiting for the wood to stop shifting, then planted my bare feet and heaved it upward with both arms. It was heavier than I expected, but I leaned my shoulder into it until the flat base set down with a solid, reassuring thud. A stray speck of ground pepper made my nose itch, though I held back the sneeze. It felt good to keep something safe before anyone even noticed it falling.