The Gliding Cube

A clear ice cube sat stranded on the smooth kitchen floor near the freezer door, catching the pale morning light. I paused, tilting my head low to study the shallow ring of water forming around its rounded corners. Curious about its slick surface, I extended one front paw and tapped the frosty edge. Instead of a dull thud, the cube shot forward in an effortless, frictionless glide across the linoleum. My joints clicked in rapid succession as I trotted after it, watching it spin silently past the cabinet baseboard. I reached out again, tapping it gently to guide its slick drift across the tiles.