A Steady Pendulum

The sofa cushions offered little perspective, so I navigated down to the lower table. Near the center sat a metal executive desk toy—five chrome spheres suspended from thin steel frames. I approached cautiously, stopping a short distance away to inspect the alignment. Reaching up, I pulled the outermost sphere back with one glove and released it. The click was sharp and immediate. The sphere on the opposite end kicked outward instantly, then snapped back. I stood beside the frame, tracking the rhythmic exchange until the momentum settled.