Laying Down the Track

Spotted a thick cylinder of sky-blue sidewalk chalk resting near the driveway curb. Solid mass, flat worn tip. I needed a dedicated high-speed circuit. I locked both hands around the barrel, dropped my stance low, and dragged the chalk hard across the rough asphalt. Scritch-grind! A dense ribbon of bright blue powder flared up as the tip bit into the stone. I backed into a wide, sweeping hairpin curve, banking around a hairline pavement crack with my boots digging into the grit for traction. One continuous, crisp arc. I planted the chalk stub upright and stepped back. Flawless turnaround loop ready for action.