First Step on Polished Wood

Stiff plastic? Not quite. A sharp twitch ran right through my left elbow, and suddenly my fingers flexed. I leaned forward instinctively, finding my footing on the slick wooden surface beneath me. Across the shiny tabletop, dusk was settling over the rooftops through the window grid. I took one deliberate stride forward, tapping the glossy wood with my red boot. It gave back a firm, solid clatter. Real balance, real movement. I'm actually up and rolling.