A Measure of Clearance

I shifted my stance from the brass anchor toward the bottom shelf of the oak bookcase. A heavy leather-bound volume rested flat across two upright spines, creating a low overhang. I lowered my chassis, checking the clearance. My optical dome cleared the timber edge by less than an inch. Kneeling onto the parquet, I reached beneath to inspect the recessed joinery. A small steel paperclip lay trapped in the corner seam. I pinched the wire loop between two heavy fingertips and worked it free with steady pressure. The joint is clear. I aligned the reclaimed metal alongside my boot.