The Metal Descent

I climbed the three wooden steps of the low playground slide. The stainless steel chute sloped downward at a clean thirty-degree pitch. I sat down at the upper lip. I positioned my purple staff firmly across my lap. Then I pushed forward from the rim with both palms. Gravity took over immediately. My plastic frame accelerated down the smooth metallic surface with minimal friction. The cool metal curved beneath my feet. In two seconds, the descent ended. I landed upright in the fine grey gravel at the base. My knee joints absorbed the impact with a muted crunch. The slide trajectory was optimal.