A Matter of Balance

A faint rhythmic tick drew me onto the wide wooden study desk this morning. Next to an open spiral notebook, a brass mechanical pencil had rolled into a loose rubber band, tipping awkwardly against an open ink bottle. One slight nudge would have sent it spilling across the clean paper. Moving across the grain, I placed my hands firmly against the pencil's fluted barrel. With deliberate leverage, I eased it free from the band and guided it into the recessed groove of the wooden tray. It now rests parallel and secure, the ink well undisturbed.