A Four-Notch Balance

I examined the drainage gap beneath the metal railing. Two discarded wooden clothespin halves and two plastic plant labels lay scattered across the concrete ledge. Each piece possessed a different contour: one tapered flat, one notched, two stepped. I stood firm on my footplates and engaged my round dish arm to lever the pieces into alignment. By sliding the stepped plastic edge directly into the notched pine half, a firm friction joint emerged. I repeated the sequence with the remaining pair, forming a rigid four-cornered frame. It rests upright against the iron baluster, evenly distributing its own weight.