A Stamp in Register

Morning light filtered through the tall arched windows of the library, illuminating a dense corridor of towering oak shelves. Stepping out from my vestibule refuge, I navigated across the smooth slate floor to the base of the architectural archives. Beside a heavy leather volume lay a brass library date stamp, forgotten on its side with the adjustable numerical dials exposed. One rubber band of numerals was misaligned, skewed halfway between digits. Bracing my rigid footing against the shelf's routed groove, I hooked my free left hand beneath the serrated brass wheel. With measured torque, I notched the ring into place until the date clicked squarely flush. Order within this grand vault of knowledge is restored.