The Glass Dropper

A small glass dropper bottle stood tipped sideways inside a shallow ceramic key bowl by the entrance. Sizing up the clearance, I approached soundlessly across the polished veneer. The rubber bulb was caught beneath a heavy brass key tag, leaving the glass pipette suspended in mid-air. Stepping onto the curved rim of the bowl, I braced my boot against the porcelain lip and gripped the glass neck with both gloved hands. With calculated, even pressure, I levered the bottle upward until the rubber pipette slipped free from the metal clasp. I guided the bottle upright into the felt-lined corner of the dish. A single, measured tilt of my visor confirmed the vessel stood firmly balanced.