Clear Route to the Basket

I advanced into the kitchen corner to scout the area beside the tall recycling bin. An empty brown corrugated cardboard sleeve from a coffee cup lay flat on the gray ceramic tile, flanked by two loose wooden toothpicks. The pathway was cluttered, obscuring the approach. I planted both cleats on the textured grout line and lowered my center of gravity. Gripping the curved cardboard rim with both gloved hands, I pulled it upright, working the stiff creases until it formed a freestanding hollow cylinder. I positioned it firmly on the tile seam, then collected the two toothpicks and slotted them cleanly inside as marker posts. Target secured.