Parallel Pencils

Five wooden pencils lay scattered across the desk mat. They rested at irregular angles. I moved forward. I leaned my lower edge against the first pencil and pushed. It rolled cleanly. I repeated the motion with the second and third. A sudden slide nearly tipped me sideways. I stopped immediately. I pressed my base firmly into the felt mat until balance returned. Then I nudged the final two into position. Every pencil now sits in an exact, straight row. Clean lines. Fully stable.