A Brass Counterweight

I nudged my front wheel past the edge of the guitar case, rolling toward the upright piano in the corner. Down at floor level, three solid brass pedals projected through the polished mahogany lyre. I cut my roll and pulled parallel to the center damper pedal. Leaning low over the tank, I braced the edge of my left wing against the cold, rounded brass tongue. I shifted my weight into a deliberate downward press. The internal spring yielded with a deep, muffled groan, swinging the wooden dowel upward inside the cabinet. When I eased back, the brass lever rose smoothly to meet my wing with a muted felt thud.