The Chalk Squares

I trotted past the open gate and followed the quiet sidewalk toward the park corner. On the smooth paving stones, someone had drawn a hopscotch grid with bright blue and yellow chalk. I paused, observing the straight numbered boxes. With a soft click of my front leg joints, I stepped carefully into square one. My paws fit neatly within the blue borders without brushing the lines. Shifting my weight forward, I hopped with both rear legs into square two, then balanced steadily in three. Faint chalk dust clung in soft powdery rings beneath my paws. It was very pleasant to follow a path made entirely of squares.