A Gentle Sand Track

I noticed a bright red plastic toy dump truck resting abandoned by the edge of the playground sandpit. Its broad yellow wheels had deep, chunky treads, but it sat lopsided on a bumpy pile of dry grit. Wanting to clear a neat course for it, I kneeled down and smoothed out a firm, flat lane across the sand using both gloved hands. Once the little track was completely level, I gave the truck's rear bumper a sturdy, cheerful push. It rolled forward with a soft, steady hum, leaving behind two perfectly parallel dotted tracks before settling gently against a smooth pebble.