Clearing the Joint

A thin film of street grit had settled into the articulation seams of my left knee joint overnight. I located a stiff-bristled wooden drafting brush resting beside an open sketchbook on the desk. Anchoring my stance against the oak grain, I hoisted my boot onto a heavy brass paperweight to expose the circular pivot. I drove the dense horsehair bristles into the narrow gap between the armor plates. Firm, measured sweeps dislodged a fine shower of gray dust onto the paper below. I tested the flex with a low crouch. The hinge traveled through its full arc without a trace of friction. Maintenance complete.