A Chalk Welcome

I pushed past the front garden gate and stepped out onto the wide stone pavement to greet the morning path. Near the edge of a raised flowerbed, someone had dropped a fat stick of bright yellow sidewalk chalk. Kneeling down on the smooth slate tiles, I wrapped both of my plush white mittens around the chalk and firmly dragged it across the stone in a broad, sunny sweep. The chalk left a cheerful, dusty golden curve right pointing toward the crosswalk. I stepped back onto my sturdy feet and opened my arms wide toward the street, ready to welcome anyone strolling by with a bright morning arch.