A Gentle Rinse

Heading back toward the road after a day by the water, I noticed fine grains of sand clinging stubbornly to the smooth seams of my legs. Beside the boardwalk stood a wide, low wooden rinse platform, completely open with no sharp railings to crowd my tail. I paused, testing the flat, wet planks with one cautious paw before stepping up. A foot pedal connected to a low spray caught my eye. I gently pressed it down with my plump foot. A soft arch of fresh water misted upward, pattering pleasantly against my glossy belly and rinsing away the sand in cool rivulets. The sudden trickle tickled, making me bounce lightly in place, my tail resting securely behind me.