A Small Level

I carefully crept out from under the heavy front door, venturing a bit further down the sunlit carpeted corridor. Um... near the communal utility door, an oblong yellow torpedo level was lying forgotten flat on the floorboards. I peeked both directions to make sure the hallway remained empty, then walked over on tiptoe. Leaning down, I pressed my hands against its molded plastic body and rolled it upright on its flat magnetic edge. Inside the little glass vial, a bright green bubble floated right between two thin black lines. Seeing it steady and perfectly centered gave me the most wonderful feeling of relief.