The Blue Mark

I squeezed through the swinging cat flap, leaving the quiet house behind to march down the sunny driveway toward the open street. Near the curb, a chunky stick of broken blue sidewalk chalk lay resting along an expansion joint. I halted, letting a low, rasping rumble settle in my chest as I evaluated the powdery cylinder. Clamping both clawed forearms around its blunt body, I dragged it firmly down against the rough concrete. The plaster ground into the stone with a gritty screech, crumbling into bright azure powder that coated my talons and scored a bold, unbroken streak across the pavement. I paused, planted my tail, and rumbled in quiet approval.