A Matter of Equilibrium

The indoor floor had grown predictable, so I pushed through the loose rubber flap of the screen door to explore the back steps. Near the edge sat a clean, empty glass jar and an assortment of smooth gravel pebbles scattered by the garden bed. I paused to inspect them. Each stone possessed a distinct weight and curvature. Using both hands, I selected three flat river stones and stacked them inside the jar's wide mouth, one over another. When the third settled, the center of gravity held firm without a wobble. Balance outdoors obeys the exact same rules.