A Calibrated Steamer

I mounted the cool ceramic tile behind the kitchen kettle to study the upward thermal plume. When the water reached a rolling boil, the escaping column of steam drifted erratically against the window glass. I stepped onto the wide wooden sill beside a glass measuring beaker. A discarded cinnamon stick lay angled across a stainless steel teaspoon. Bracing my stance, I used the curved edge of my golden claw to slide the spoon handle over the beaker rim, tilting the cinnamon stick until it cleaved the rising vapor into two symmetrical white curls. The split currents rose smoothly, perfectly balanced.