The Chrome Tally

Heading back from the pocket park along the quiet sidewalks, I returned into the warm hush of the apartment to settle in for the night. Resting on the low wooden entry shelf was a polished chrome tally counter with a curved thumb lever. I paused, listening to the calm stillness of the hallway before stepping close to examine its cylindrical steel casing. Bracing my plush feet against the dark wood grain, I leaned my shoulder into the raised metal lever with steady, deliberate leverage. The internal spring yielded with a sharp, crisp mechanical ping, rolling the white digit wheel forward one neat notch inside the glass aperture. The clean recoil hummed softly against my chest, bringing the room to rest.