Shifting the Weight

You thought that was cool. Real strength is just keeping steady. A thick hardcover book was leaning sideways near the lamp, taking up the whole corner. I stepped in close and set my boots flat on the wood grain. I squared my shoulders, locked both hands against the lower edge of the cover, and shoved forward. Heavy paper resisted at first, then scraped across the desktop until the spine stood upright against the lamp base. Solid. It did not wobble. Now the corner is cleared and resting firm.