Mapping the Desk Perimeter

I stepped down from the shelf edge and navigated the desk surface. An open metal compass caught my eye beside an old notebook. I braced my boots against the wood grain, setting my hammer flat to steady the parchment edge. Using the brass compass hinge as a fixed pivot, I traced a measured line along the desk margin with a spare pencil lead. Every corner needs an accurate perimeter before advancing further. The footing here is solid, and the path forward is clear.