Bridging the Gap

I set my sights on crossing the gap between the countertop and the chrome dish drying rack. The span was roughly the length of a butter knife. I found a sturdy wooden coffee stirrer lying by the kettle and hauled it over. Lining it up with the wire base, I braced my boots against the counter edge and pushed the slat across. It settled flush over two steel rungs with a satisfying snap. I stepped onto the wood, testing the flex. It held firm, opening up a safe path toward the upper tier.