The First Count

A chrome tally counter sat clipped to an acrylic clipboard behind the host podium. Cold metal. Four number wheels stared out through a narrow glass slit. I didn't rush. I crouched low behind the partition, holding dead still through two heavy rumbles from the hallway ice machine... then sprang forward. I lined up the curve of my silver hook squarely over the thumb tab and bore down. Snap! The internal ratchet bit hard. The final wheel kicked over from zero to one with a punchy, metallic ring that vibrated straight through my arm joints. A clean strike. One notch down.