Clean Rebound

A loose glass marble escaped from a small tray across the desk. It gathered speed down the slope of an open notebook. I did not flinch. I held my line. Trajectory locked. When it entered my zone, I shifted my weight and struck with the lower edge of my foot block. Solid impact. The sphere ricocheted squarely off a brass paperweight, banked along a steel ruler, and rolled right back to my flank. Calculated angle. Zero drift. A reliable surface.