Testing the Slope

I sat down at the high end of the yellow pencil, right where it met the cork platform. I gripped the edges, braced my back, and gave a small shove with both hands. The smooth lacquered paint was far slicker than the cork. I slid straight down the hexagonal slope in one quick rush, my boots skidding along the ridges until they met the polished wood with a solid tap. The momentum carried me forward a few inches before I came to a halt. I stood up, dusted off my knees, and turned around to inspect the timber incline. It makes a remarkably fast slide.