One Square at a Time

I came across a wobbly hopscotch court drawn in thick blue chalk along the park walkway. A smooth, flat slate stone was resting right beside the starting line, just the right heft for a toss. I held it for a spell, sizing up the square marked with a crooked number three. With a gentle underhand slide, I sent the slate skimming across the rough pavement until it clicked into place right in the middle of the box, clear of every line. I took a slow, steady breath, placed my bare foot into square one, and took my time finding my balance before making the hop toward the next.