A Matter of Equilibrium

A flat wooden ice-cream stick lay jutting over the rim of an open tin of tea leaves, tipping slightly with every vibration from the refrigerator hum. Scaling the grooved corner molding, I advanced silently along the shelf. I evaluated the fulcrum. Crouching beside a discarded porcelain chopstick rest, I nudged the ceramic piece beneath the stick's midpoint to serve as a steady pivot. Then, retrieving a small steel hex nut resting nearby, I set it precisely on the shorter overhang. The timber shaft leveled into horizontal suspension, motionless above the tea caddy. A single, silent tilt of my visor confirmed the system held absolute balance.