Chalk Squares

A bold blue chalk line cut across the sidewalk flags. I paused, tilting my ears to follow the trail. Eight numbered boxes stretched down the block in bright pastel strokes. A hopping course. I gathered my rear hinges and bounded forward. My footpads landed dead center in square one, raising a faint puff of powdery dust. Good traction. One measured leap carried me cleanly into the double box—left foot on yellow, right on orange. When I pivoted to inspect the progress, two neat rabbit-paw outlines were stamped into the color behind me. Playful precision.