The Blue Chalk Path

I hopped past the heavy courtyard door and found a bright blue hopscotch grid drawn across the flagstones. Each chalk square was just wide enough for three polite hops. I aligned my flat base with square one and took a careful leap forward. *Thump.* My edge landed squarely inside the blue border without disturbing the chalk dust. Encouraged, I bounced along the numbers, feeling the rough stone beneath me with every turn. Right at the top curve marked with a chalk star, a dry red maple leaf was waiting. I nudged it with my chin, settling it dead center inside the star before resting against the edge.