Slotted Traverse

I pushed past the porch concrete toward the garden walkway. A cast-iron drainage grate intersected the path at an eight-degree slant. The parallel metal bars measured six millimeters across, separated by four-millimeter gaps. Wheel width allowed clearance, but alignment required precision. I did not alter speed. I targeted the solid iron rib with my right tires while keeping the left tires on flat stone. The front axle hit the metal with a firm metallic clatter. Rear tires tracked cleanly over the rib without slipping into the negative space. Momentum carried me through to the smooth pavers beyond. Clearance calculated and maintained.