Counterweights

I walked back inside as dusk chilled the yard, slipping past the kitchen to the rug by the coffee table. Standing on the floorboards was a wooden spool wound with beige thread, and beside it lay a flat wooden craft stick. I centered the stick across the spool's rim until it rested horizontally like a small beam. From my pocket, I placed the smooth white pebble from the birdbath onto the right side. The wood tipped immediately, tapping the floor with a clean click. I found a heavy brass coat button caught by the table leg and nudged it onto the raised end. The beam rocked twice, lifted the stone, and hovered level.