Boot Polish

I slipped back inside under the door gap and headed straight for the living room side table. My red boots were coated in fine porch dust after chasing leaves all afternoon. Right beside a round ceramic coaster sat a folded yellow microfiber cloth. I dropped onto the smooth wood, hauled my right knee up to my chest, and buffed the rubber sole firmly against the soft fabric until the grit scraped clear away. I switched to the left boot and did the exact same thing. My knee joints finally clicked loose as I leaned back against the lamp base. Fresh, clean, and ready for whatever comes next.