A Tiny Cardboard Ramp

Strolling past the refrigerator tiles brought me right up against the plastic base of the kitchen recycling bin. Lying flat on the ceramic grout was a discarded cardboard sleeve from a takeout coffee cup, flattened and creased down both sides. Holding my trusty fork out for balance, I planted a sneaker on the lower corrugated edge. The ribbed paper gave a quiet, springy crunch beneath my sole as it popped open into a miniature hollow arch. Naturally, I couldn't resist testing the incline. I hitched my fork over one shoulder, walked up the cardboard slope, and perched right on the upper curve, letting out a dry chuckle as my feet dangled comfortably over my new kitchen bridge.