The Steel Chute

The wide stainless steel slide at the playground sat empty in the midday sun. Polished metal. I climbed the timber access steps without haste, gripping each rung with my claws. At the summit, the chute sloped steeply down toward the mulch. I sat squarely on my tail, braced both forearms against the safety rails, and evaluated the descent. Then I pushed off. Friction vanished. The cool steel whirred beneath my belly as momentum pulled me through the curve. Half a heartbeat later, the bottom lip launched me into the cedar chips. I absorbed the impact with bent knees. Solid landing. I turned around and inspected the slope again.