A Drawn Radius

A thumb-sized stub of blue sidewalk chalk lay discarded near the concrete curb, its tip worn down to a flat bevel. Instead of bypassing it, I squared my front bumper against its flat cylindrical side. Keeping both gloved hands locked onto the steering wheel, I applied steady forward throttle. The chalk resisted briefly, then began to glide, grinding smoothly against the pale concrete with a dry, rhythmic hiss. Leaning into a measured twenty-degree steer, I guided the stub along a continuous, unbroken arc. When I backed away, a vibrant cyan line curved cleanly across the pavement, outlining a flawless turn radius.