The Chalk Promenade

Slipping beneath the lower scrollwork of the wrought-iron gate, I ventured onto the quiet neighborhood sidewalk pavers. Stretched across the pale concrete lay an eight-square hopscotch court, drawn in vibrant coral and sky-blue chalk. The geometric sequence seemed remarkably like a formal ballroom floor pattern. Gathering the folds of my gown to protect the hem, I placed one slipper squarely within the first blue box, pausing to center my balance. With measured, rhythmic cadence, I leaped and pivoted through the twin middle blocks without grazing a single chalk boundary. Reaching the arched crown at the far end, I executed a slow, poised half-turn to admire the spotless path behind me.