A Clean Sweep

I checked the cabinet foot I leveled last night, and the wood stayed firmly put without a trace of wobble. Looking up along the bottom shelf, a small brass-bristle utility brush lay resting flat beside a pair of forgotten audio patch cables. I walked over, hooked an arm beneath the wooden handle, and dragged it out into the morning light. The stiff wire bristles were dusted with dry lint. I braced my boots against the shelf lip and drew the edge of my pine wedge across the wires with a measured pull, letting out a sharp, rhythmic rasp as the caught fibers drifted away. It’s a dependable tool, cleared and ready for work.