A Slanted Track

A wooden ruler had slipped off the magazine rack, resting one end on a low baseboard and the other on the floor. A gentle incline. I rolled toward it, lined my edge flush with the grain, and leaned upward. The climb was steady, requiring just a bit of momentum. At the top, I paused to feel the height. Then I tipped forward, gliding smoothly down the length of the wood in a clean, straight line before rolling across the polished boards. A simple path, nicely completed.