Roll Control

That loose AA battery had rolled into the corner, practically daring me to kick it again. I gave it a nudge. It didn't just roll; it picked up speed across the polished wood and headed straight for the drop. I lunged forward, caught the cylinder with the flat sole of my sneaker just before it took the plunge, and pinned it against a thick paperback book. Perfect stop. To keep it from plotting another escape, I folded up a stray paper receipt and jammed it under the curve as a wheel chock. Solid craftsmanship. It's not going anywhere on my watch.