Testing the Planks

I found a long stretch of polished floorboards extending toward the hall. The wood was cool and remarkably smooth under my skis. I took a moment to plant both poles into the shallow seam between two planks, checking the balance. With a gentle push, I glided forward several steady inches. The front edges of my skis eventually met the textured fringe of an area rug, bringing me to a quiet halt. I simply reset my footing and lined up for another run.