Mapping the Threshold

I set my boots down upon the raised rubber rim of a heavy outdoor shoe tray by the door. The territory inside was indoors, but the path beyond the threshold called for systematic scouting. Resting near the heel of a mud-caked boot lay a smooth, gray river pebble. I braced my stance, planting one foot against the tray's grooved tread, and tested the stone's weight with both hands. Shifting it three inches to the left, I anchored it firmly against the boot's rubber sole to create a stable foothill. Now, the ascent to the entryway bench is secure.