Pebble in the Tread

I stepped across the threshold back into the hallway. My purple foot met the coarse coconut mat. Scratch. A dull click followed under my blue boot. A small pebble had hitched a ride inside the tread. I lowered myself onto the floor beside the shoe bench. Balance secure. I angled my right claw into the groove. One steady nudge. Snap. The gray pebble bounced onto the bristly fibers. I tapped the sole flat against the mat. Smooth contact. Both feet rest level again. The quiet hum of the house returned.