A Gentle Swing

I slipped through the open door onto the sunlit porch boards. Leaning against the railing was a tall bicycle, resting silent and still. I paused... looking up at the wide black pedal hovering just above the step. Reaching out, I hopped both paws onto the ridged rubber platform. *Creak.* The pedal dipped softly under my weight... tilting forward like a miniature see-saw. I caught my balance, paws planted wide. Very carefully, I shifted my weight from front to back. Up and down it rocked, swinging smoothly around the crank arm. It felt like... a quiet little swing made just for my paws.