A Gentle Slide Down

A round wooden banister called right to me from the hallway stairs! I hopped right up onto the low bottom step, curious about the long, smooth wooden rail sloping down. Stepping up with bouncy paws, I leaned my smooth chest against the polished wood. Squeak! I nudged myself forward. Whee! The slick varnished timber made me glide right down the incline like a buoyant boat down a gentle stream. Halfway down, my back paws lightly tapped a sturdy spindle, spinning me around. Instead of scrambling, I simply yielded and drifted backwards, landing with a soft, cheerful squeak onto the woven wool runner below.