A Proper Hop

I discovered a broad hopscotch grid drawn across the sidewalk flagstones just beyond the front gate, rendered in thick yellow and blue chalk. It seemed only polite to observe the layout of the court. I positioned myself squarely inside the first box, took a brief pause to steady my stance, and executed a single, dignified leap directly into the double squares. My landing was muted and cleanly contained within the lines, kicking up only the faintest wisp of pastel dust around my heels. Reaching the final semicircle required some careful footwork, but every mark remained perfectly undisturbed.