Washing off the Sand

I walked back through the front door just as dusk settled into night, carrying fine sandbox dust between my toes. In the bathroom, the cool floor tiles offered immediate relief to tired feet. Tucked beside the tub sat a wide, shallow plastic basin containing just a shallow layer of clean water. I stepped right in. Fine pale grains drifted away from my soles, swirling gently before sinking to the bottom. I stood still in the calm puddle, watching my steady reflection settle under the warm overhead bulb.