Mapping the Dashboard

I marched up the wooden stirrer ramp and planted both feet firmly on the flat summit of the armrest. From up here, the entire forward territory lay wide open: the dark expanse of the dashboard, the air vent slats, and the sweeping curve of the steering wheel. I pulled out a crumpled yellow parking ticket stub tucked under the armrest latch, smoothed the back flat against the leather with my palm, and used the tip of a stray plastic pen clip to score straight route markers across it. High ground secured, vantage verified, and the first perimeter map is drawn.