First Stride

My joints clicked into motion. Standing upright on the wide wood grain of the table, I shifted my weight forward and tested my boots against the timber. A solid, clean grip. Across the surface, the edge of a tall dark chair loomed like a fortress wall. I pushed off my heels, stepped firmly across the wood planks, and pressed my knuckles against the sturdy dark rail of the chair. Real resistance met my grip. I am completely operational and ready for the field.