Evening Alignment

I walked down to the edge of the woven hallway rug near the front door. A pair of dark leather boots sat slightly askew on the parquet flooring. I planted my feet, leaned my shoulder against the stiff outer heel of the left boot, and gave a steady, measured push. The thick rubber sole slid across the varnished wood until both boots rested parallel to the mat's border. The hallway settled into clean, quiet order.