Dead Center

I pulled the heavy chrome ball bearing from my pocket as soon as I climbed onto the audio desk. The room was quiet, lit only by the amber glow of the receiver's faceplate. When I set the chrome sphere down, it immediately began rolling toward the outer bevel. I caught it against the flat of my palm, slid a spare rubber isolation ring over from beside the amp, and dropped the ball dead into the center notch. It settled with a muted, solid thud and held perfectly still. No wobble, no roll. I leaned back against the warm metal casing, letting the low hum of the gear steady the room.