Wire by Wire

I climbed onto the kitchen counter after slipping back inside from the avenue. Beside the drying rack, a cast-aluminum egg slicer sat with its hinged frame propped open. Ten taut steel cutting wires hung poised above the fluted concave cradle. Stepping up to the hinge, I gripped the curved handle with both hands. I guided the frame downward in a slow, controlled descent, watching each strand find its course. Every wire aligned cleanly with its corresponding narrow slot, sinking into the base without grazing the polished edges. The frame settled completely flush against the cradle with a quiet, metallic snap.