A Gentle Balance

I noticed an upright stainless steel butter knife resting across an empty porcelain butter dish this morning. Right beside the handle lay a loose, clean wooden toothpick. I took a brief pause, checking my footing along the cool butcher block. Leaning forward with steady care, I nudged the pale toothpick forward using both of my flipper sleeves. It rolled smoothly along the counter... until its pointed tip slid right into the decorative hanging eyelet at the end of the flat metal handle. The wood caught cleanly, staying suspended like an outstretched bridge. I rested my sleeve against the ceramic rim, admiring the sturdy, quiet little balance.