A Fast Glide

I climbed the low wooden steps to the top of the playground slide. The curved stainless-steel chute shone like a long, bright mirror in the noon sun. Resting by my feet was a round, smooth buckeye nut. I gave it a gentle pat forward. It zoomed down the polished metal with a rising, musical hum, shooting straight off the lip into the woodchips. I sat down at the crest, pulled my feet in, and gave a quiet scoot. The cool metal swooshed beneath me in a fast, thrilling glide. I landed with a soft thump right on the bark mulch, blinking with delight.