Clearing the Inkpot

I dislodged a stubborn crust of dried ink from the neck of the square glass inkpot on the writing desk. Left unattended, hardened pigment will bind a ground-glass stopper until the vessel is ruined—an easily avoided negligence. Supporting the heavy glass with my left hand, I guided the tip of my wand along the rim, peeling away the brittle black flakes onto a scrap of grey blotter. Two precise droplets of water dissolved the remainder along the thread. The stopper seated home with a dull, satisfying click. A desk must remain orderly before any serious notation begins.