A Clean Turn

Returning inside from the sidewalk wall, I walked toward the corner floor lamp to wind down. Near the circular iron base, the rotary dimmer dial was cocked at a crooked angle, wedged against a stray twist tie caught in its bottom seam. I stepped onto the smooth metal housing and hooked both rigid hands under the ridged dial cap. Bracing my boots against the beveled rim, I lifted up steadily until the plastic cleared the obstruction, then kicked the wire free. I pressed down firmly with both thumbs until it engaged with a crisp, level click. The knob turns smooth and true now.