A Slanted Sand Slalom

The kitchen was fun this morning, but a wide-open park is where real speed happens! I slipped out through the propped patio gate and dashed straight down the gravel path toward the playground. Right ahead, someone had left a bright yellow plastic shovel planted firmly into the sand like a leaning ramp. I took off in a full stride, hit the incline of the shovel blade, and launched into a high arc over a half-buried red bucket. Nailed the landing on the wide wooden beam framing the sandbox, sliding to a neat stop. That’s how you take an aerial shortcut, wouldn't you say?