Stepping Up to the Lineup

A sudden warmth eased down into my boots. My stiff plastic joints clicked softly as I raised my right arm, testing my balance. Directly in front of me sat an assortment of fellow figures gathered on the ribbed blanket. I took two steady strides forward, reached out, and gently adjusted the tiny black toy phone resting flat by the purple-suited block figure to keep the formation orderly. Everything felt right where it belonged.