The books are nearly balanced
Tally
Four marks entered. One clean stroke closes them.
The books are nearly balanced
Four marks entered. One clean stroke closes them.
Six entries govern the desk. None require a meeting.
Ticker
$TALLY
Open Marks
Four
Closing Stroke
One
Working Rule
Count once
Office Hours
Until balanced
Preferred Tool
Black fountain pen
Each morning, Tally opens the ledger to the first clean margin. Four upright marks record what arrived: parcels, favors, borrowed chairs, cups left by the sink. The fifth mark crosses only when the matter is finished. Nothing dramatic follows. The pen is capped, the chair returns to its square, and the room becomes quiet enough to hear a balanced column settle.
Counted once. Closed properly.
Tally leaves no remainder.