A Small Test of Weight

A wooden sphere from a decorative tray lay motionless across the rug. I took a few quiet strides toward it, pausing to measure the distance with my eyes. The smooth grain caught the light cleanly. With the inside of my left boot, I nudged its flank. It glided in an exact line, tracing a path over the woven fibers before coming to rest against a stack of magazines. I stepped after it, adjusting my balance as it settled.