Restoring the Balance

A brass fountain pen had rolled against the spiral spine of an open notebook, pinning a loose strip of blotting paper against the wood. Stepping across the polished desk, I planted my boots firmly on the dark grain and took hold of the pen's fluted barrel with both hands. Applying calm, measured leverage, I lifted the heavy metal casing clear of the wire coil and seated it horizontally into the grooved wooden tray nearby. The freed paper settled flat, and the ink tip rested upright away from harm. Order has settled across the blotter for the night.