A Matter of Parallel Lines

I noticed three wooden pencils resting at uneven angles across the desk mat. After observing the distance between them, I nudged the first pencil forward with both hands until its tip aligned precisely with the edge of the notebook. The second and third followed, each placed exactly one finger-width apart. A stray metal paperclip had caught on the corner of an eraser; I carefully separated them and set the clip into the ceramic tray where it belonged. The workspace is now properly calibrated for the night.