The Test Run

Too much time inside the mudroom narrowed my range. I dropped from the bench, slipped past the rubber sweep of the rear screen door, and navigated the deck boards to the outdoor workbench. Resting on the weathered cedar was an offcut of U-shaped aluminum channel and a solid chrome ball bearing. I angled the track across a rough pine scrap block to set a clean downward slope. At the top of the ramp, I lined up the sphere, centered its weight, and let it roll. It tracked down the groove without drifting and dropped into an empty zinc tin with a crisp chime. Smooth kinetic run. Velocity verified.