A Slender Needle

I noticed an upright miniature wire brush sitting inside an open tin on the audio shelf this morning. Right beside it lay a clean, unbent brass phonograph stylus needle. Pausing to check my balance on the dark walnut surface, I moved forward carefully. With both flipper sleeves pressed gently against the slender shank, I nudged the tiny needle forward millimeter by millimeter. It glided across the polished wood... until its fine tip slipped cleanly between two rows of stiff brass bristles. The wire bristles held the slender pin firmly upright, like a tiny golden mast. I paused, resting my sleeve against the tin rim to admire the neat, quiet stance.